After we got back from Indiana, we got to do some fun things at the end of the week. On Thursday we were invited to some members' house, Gary and Cheryl's, to go swimming. As much as Lena has been swimming lately, she can't get enough of it. She had lots of fun in the pool, but got cranky because she didn't want to be held. She doesn't understand that she can't "run around" in a pool! She is getting more and more independent every day. (You should see the fit she throws if you don't let her feed herself with a fork!) I didn't get any pics of Lena actually in the pool because I was in there with her.
After she was done swimming, she had fun running around the yard. Gary and Cheryl have much nicer grass than we have at home. It was fun to play on.
The Kutches were there too (minus Rebecca). Daddy got out the alligator bubble blower. I think Carl enjoyed the bubbles more than Lena!
On Friday, some other members, Scott and Patty, invited us to go to a Whitecaps game with them. The West Michigan Whitecaps are the Grand Rapids Minor League baseball team. They are part of the Tigers organization. We had never been to a minor league team (still haven't seen the Tin Caps), so it was a new experience for us. And it was Lena's first baseball game ever (not counting the high school game she slept through when she was about 6 weeks old.)
It was rainy that day but not rainy enough to cancel the game. It sprinkled on and off while we were there, but it wasn't too bad.
Jim loves this pic. I think this is Lena being overjoyed at having been born a Cardinals fan! One of my STL friends, Kelly, got this hat for Lena when she was born and she's just now growing into it! (It's a generic "youth" size.)
Scott bought her a teddy little bear wearing a Whitecaps hoodie. Cute! Lena spent most of the game mooching popcorn from the woman sitting behind us. She got fussy watching people all around her eat, so the only thing that kept her happy was to munch on popcorn. (Of course, it didn't matter in the least that she had just eaten all but one inch of a full sized hot dog and bun!)
Scott proudly displaying the foul ball he caught.
Fifth Third Ballpark is home to the infamous Fifth Third Burger. It weighs four pounds and is so big it is served in a pizza box. It is the most unhealthy thing on the planet! Look at those nutrition facts. Those are real. Everyone who finishes their burger during the game gets an "I did it!" t-shirt. Check out competition rule #6. Nicely worded. And no, we didn't attempt the burger. (If it's too hard to read, click on the picture to see it bigger.)
Scott and Patty's son, Andy, and his friend Eddie went with us too.
The Whitecaps shut out the Peoria Chiefs 7-0. It wasn't hard rooting for the Whitecaps since the Chiefs are a minor league team of the Cubs. They even have the Cubs logo on their jerseys. We had a good time at the game. It is a fun ballpark. Between the innings they have fans participate in silly little games. Fun to watch. I would like to go to Whitecaps games more often.
Garden progress: July 20. Looking great!
Our crazy tomato plants! We have quite a few green tomatoes on there.
Our first head of broccoli. So cute!
A gorgeous row of lettuce.
Teeny tiny spaghetti squash.
Baby zucchini.
A yellow squash with the bloom still attached.
Another plaything we got Lena at a garage sale today. She loves the slide. She goes down it with no hesitation.
Trying to teach her not to go back up the slide. It's a difficult concept.
The grass makes for a soft landing.
So I had my consultation with the surgeon on Friday afternoon. I like him a lot. He answered all of my questions and seems to be really knowledgeable about the procedure. It will be done laproscopically, which means they don't slice open your whole abdomen like they used to. He will make four small incisions, two on my right side (¼" long each), one just below my sternum (¼" long as well), and one near my belly button (½" long). After tying off the blood vessels and tubes etc, they pull the gall bladder out through the belly button hole. Weird! But the recovery time is much shorter and easier this way. I should only be laid up for a few days, as opposed to a week or more for the old way. They scheduled my surgery for Wednesday, July 29th. Mom is going to come up and watch Lena during the surgery and for a couple of days after while I recover. I am so thankful that she is able and willing to help us out like that. Aunt Hil offered, but she will be out of town with friends that weekend. I am so looking forward to having this over with. It will be so freeing not having to wonder constantly when the next attack will happen.
This week I am focusing on getting the house back in order (with all of our traveling, things have gotten a little unorganized around here) and making some meals ahead of time and freezing them so Mom and Jim will have easy dinners while I am recovering. Jim is presenting at a conference this week called Higher Things. He was very honored to be asked to participate in this conference and has been really looking forward to it.
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