ACL.. The Sequel

So I'm starting to wonder if I will ever be the same.. On June 27th I had surgery again to try and repair my ACL. Previously, I would have thought that was something only athlete's have to worry about (Tiger Woods..Cadillac Williams), and since no one would ever dare call me an athlete, I thought I was safe.. Ha!

Last time they used a cadaver graft to fashion a fancy replacement for the tendon in my knee that I tore in what we refer to as "The tragic 4 wheeling accident of 2007". (and no I haven't got back on my 4 wheeler since) But since that didn't seem to hold up..(seriously, all I was doing is climbing some stairs) this time we went with my own body parts (since they appear to be such a hardy bunch) and used part of my own hamstring. So far, so good. The results seem favorable. Less bruising, hopefully a shorter recovery time, Jon is still speaking to me.. all seems well. But most of this was true of last time around.

Oh, but I hate physical therapy! Talk about treatment that is worse than the problem itself, have someone pick up you kneecap through your skin and move it around for a while..see how you like it.. I'm tired of being in the house, unable to drive, dependent on Jon and the kids for everything.. and I'll admit, I might be a little cranky!!

So if you have been on the receiving end of my new award winning personality, i.e Jon or my Mom.. I apologize, it was the drugs talking I promise!

I love you all!!

July 1st

So I'm a few days behind blogging about this but on July 1st, Jon and I celebrated our 13 year anniversary! That's crazy! It seems like it has been forever!!

Actually, time has gone so fast I find myself looking back and wondering how we got where we are now. I think we are at a good place in our life, better than we have ever been, and I can step back and truly appreciate what I have. I have two kids that amaze me and make me laugh every day. I live in a beautiful home in a great, safe neighborhood. I have a dog that loves me as much as I love him (that's important!) And I am so lucky to be married to the same man I fell in love with when I was 14 years old!

Jon, I couldn't have any of this without you and I know sometimes life gets in the way and I forget to tell you but I love you just as much today as I did back then!! I would do it all over again in a second. I am so proud to be your wife and have your name, to be the mother of your children, your team mom, your secretary, your assistant on the sidelines and your partner in life. You mean the world to me and I am so thankful to have had the past 13 years with you by my side.. I look forward to the rest of it.. Can't wait to see what happens next..

(Also special thanks to Kelz for reminding me my anniversary is actually the 1st and not the 2nd as I had originally posted.. Don't I feel foolish!!)

Alabama Vacation!

Well we're back, and all ten of us made it home. Some of us just barely though. I love my family but am quite grateful that I don't live with them! (I'm sure they feel the same about me!) We had an amazing time and Jon and I aren't sure we want to be home. Cody and Kellie loved the beach but aren't big fans of the critters that live in the ocean. Everyone there loved my kids but I think they all really loved Jon. He found out what it was like to be part of a big crazy family, and I think he loved it.. He tried to see if someone would adopt him so he could stay. We spent seven days in Fort Morgan, Alabama and went to the beach every day. If you ask Kelz we also went to Walmart every day too. We went on a dolphin cruise, went go-kart racing, rode the gulf waves, Cody caught some fish, we got tattoos (temporary of course!) almost went parasailing (stinking rain!) and had an overall amazing trip. Pretty good for our first ever family vacation. To the nine other Carters that traveled with me (and after this trip, face it all of you have a little Carter in you!) thanks for the part each of you played in making this a memorable and wonderful trip for my family. I still love ya'll!

Dirt!

So if you've ever been to our house, or more importantly in our backyard, you have seen this huge section of dirt that lines our back fence. We don't know why it was there. Or what any of the previous owners were thinking but it was a whole lot of dirt! And now..(drum roll please..) It's gone!!
Now we (and by we I mean Jon) just have to fix the sprinklers and make it ready for sod or something like that and it will be pretty! No more will I have to listen to complaints of the weeds overtaking the yard, or the little dog smelling awful from rolling around in them.. Our yard will be one step closer to looking like ours! Woohoo!!

Finally!

I think summer might actually be on the way. Kids couldn't wait to get back in the pool, but they never can. Kelz starts asking for the pool to be open sometime in March. This day might be the only one where these two actually get along... But aren't they so cute?? Two more weeks and they'll be swimming in the ocean with real creatures!! Can't wait!

Happy Birthday Baby Girl!

Kellie Jo,
Today my baby girl turns nine years old. I can't believe how fast you've grown. It seems like just yesterday that they handed me to you in the hospital, and you've had my heart ever since. I am so proud of how smart you are (everyone says you're just like me), I am in awe of some of the things you say and know at such a young age. You love your family, no questions asked. Even that brother of yours, no matter how much you two fight, you always have his back. I hope you two stay close as you get older. You mother him almost as much as I do.
Kell, I always wanted a little girl just like you. Someone to dress up in beautiful clothes and do her hair and paint her nails. Someone I can talk to, and shop with, and read with, and just BE with. You are my daughter as well as my friend. I love that you still want to lay in my bed and talk with me and be read to. I am happy that you want to stay my little girl forever and not grow up too fast.
Your baptism meant so much to me and I wanted everything to be perfect for you. Never have I seen your family (both of them) come together like that to celebrate one very special little girl, but you do have that affect on people. I hope you remember that day always.
You are your Daddy's girl in every sense of the word. You have him wrapped around that little finger of yours. He would give you the stars if he could.
You can turn us all in to mush with just one tear, and make our day with one small smile. I know I tell you often, but you are the most beautiful girl in the world, and I'm so proud that you are mine.
Happy Birthday Kellie Jo!

Oatmeal, Alabama.. Here We Come..

We are going on vacation! This is the beach house we will be staying in for 7 days. I can't explain why I am so excited about it, since I didn't really love going as a kid but I can't even wait!

There are 10 of us flying from Salt Lake to Louisiana and then driving into Alabama from there. My cousin is getting married on 06/07/08 (kinda funny) and then off to the beach we go. The beach is in Fort Morgan, Alabama and the house is right on the Gulf.

Why Alabama? Well my Dad was born and raised there. (That explains a lot!) And most of his family still lives there. I haven't been there since I was 16, and Jon and the kids never have. My Dad is from Mobile, Alabama, but we have called it Oatmeal, Alabama for as long as I can remember. I have a sister that couln't say Mobile when she was younger so Oatmeal kinda stuck.

I can't wait for my family to experience all the great things Alabama has to offer... Mosquitos, cockroaches, hurricanes and HUMIDITY! All the things that agree with me so well. I am so cute when I am there, let me tell ya! And Jo is just like me so we should be quite the pair. I have to admit there are good things about it too.. The beach houses are beautiful and the sand and water are too, I just don't love to get in them.. Give me a book and leave me in the house and we are good to go.

Sounds like the boys will be chartering a boat to take out into the Gulf to fish.. (I sure hope they bring Jon back with them.) Us girls will be on the beach working on our tans! I'm a little worried about leaving my little dog behind but I've been assured he will be well taken care of and I'm afraid if I brought him he might get eaten by one of those big nasty cockroaches I was telling you about. (I'm not kidding, they're huge!)

All in all it should be a good time. No telling how many of the 10 of us will still be speaking to each other by the time we get back but hopefully we all make it back. (Even Jon.) Plus we aren't leaving until June so I still have time to change my mind!!

For more pics of this beach house and a property tour link to http://www.meyerre.com/rentals/propertiesbytype.aspx and it's called the USA. Maybe next year you can come with us!