Merry Christmas Everyone!

Merry Christmas! Let us not forget the reason for the season. Jeremy and I pray the best for each one of you out there. May God be glorified through this time of year. He is good, His mercies are new every day, and His love endures forever!

We pray that 2011 brings nothing but good health, and blessings!

Merry Christmas to ALL!!

Kellee & Jeremy

Reflections of the not-so- sleepy...

It is 2:23 am. I'm sitting here hoping I exhaust myself.

I was reflecting on 2010.

Wow... hard to believe it's almost over.

2010... well, I won't be sad to venture into 2011... let's just start with that.

While there have been many memories, and exciting times in 2010... (especially with the house)

2010 has dealt me quite a few hard blows. There have been many days I've felt "down for the count." I can't believe how devastating 2010 was to me... emotionally, physically, mentally, spiritutally. It's been a hard year. I've tried to fight the truth of it all.. but as I've reflected on it the last few hours (since 11pm when I tried to initially go to sleep), I've realized... that I'm grateful there are only 12 months in a year.

I'm hoping 2011 brings many smiles. I'm hoping 2011 brings restoration. I'm hoping that there are a few surprises in there as well. I'm hoping that within 2011 lies peace. I'm praying that 2011 brings new opportunities. I'm praying that 2011 brings a renewed spirit.

*sigh*

I don't want to just blurt out everything on a blog. I'm too private of a person for that... but I will ask, that the Lord grant me the desires of my heart as we enter a new year. 2011, I greet you with open arms.

Here's a another new year. Praying it's the best yet.

Follow the ticker!

Well the last 2 months has been pretty fantastic. I have gotten a little bug within me to work out... a lot! So in combination with eating healthy, and working out every day... I have started losing weight. That's always good, right? Well.... needless to say, I have created a little ticker up at the top. Feel free to follow along with my weight loss journey. Also, feel free to start your own journey.

I have had great success with Jillian Michael's 30 Day Shred. It's a good workout for the 30 minutes. Whew... it sure gets me a-sweatin.

Anyway, as we approach 2011 I have big plans. I have a wedding in May... I wanna look my best... and Jeremy and I are planning our dream vacation in July... Hawaii! I'm determined to look awesome in a bathing suit. Soo.. wish me luck everyone!!

Call to Prayer...

Hey Everyone!

I know I seem to start off every blog post with an apology... I don't want to disappoint, so... sorry for the lack of posts. We're sort of at a stand still. We've been working on a few projects around the house... but most of all we've been tackling the leaves. That's been a full time job! Leaves, leaves, and more leaves. I think we've spent at least 10 hours taking care of leaves in our yard. Last I checked, our yard was still covered. In fact, it didn't even look like we did any. Hehehe

Anyway, as the title suggests... I'd like to ask for prayer. There is a lot going on here and there. Great things, exciting things... but still it would be great to know that there are people out there praying for us.

Hopefully the next blog post will have more updates, and more excitement. Sometimes I feel like I'm living in a snow globe and someone just keeps shaking the heck out of it. Hehe...

Thanks for praying everyone!

Where where you September 2, 2005??

The week of August 29, 2005 Hurricane Katrina Rocked our nation.

On September 1, 2005 my beloved "future" mother-in-law drove 9 hours one way to pick up Jeremy in Wisconsin, only to turn immediately around and drive 9 hours home... through the night, arriving in Cleveland about 5AM.

On September 2, 2005 at 8am Jeremy and I got our marriage license, got his tux, had a crash course "pre-marriage counseling," and promptly at 7:30 pm I walked down the isle to commit myself forever to my best friend. Since then... we haven't turned back!

We have had one heck of a roller coaster ride so far... but I wouldn't change it for the world! I can't wait to see what the next 5, 10, or 100 years bring. And, thank you to our family and friends for all your love and support over the years!

I love you, Jeremy!!

Surgery Update:

I would first like to thank everyone for praying for me. In just a second I will update you about how the surgery went and what's ahead of me. I also want to "publicly" let everyone know how appreciative I am to have such a wonderful husband to take care of me during the time of my recovery. Jeremy did a spectacular job. I was impressed! He still continues to take care of me reminding me to take my medicine, putting drops in my ear, or putting ointment on my incision still. I have been truly blessed by his compassion and willingness to care for me at this time.

Anyway...

On Thursday, August 12 I went into the Cleveland Clinic for an outpatient procedure. I knew I had a cholesteatoma that they needed to remove, but there wasn't much I knew about it other than that. We got there around 10:30. Checked in. They took me back around 11. They did the standard pre-op things (weight, blood pressure, IV etc..). The doctors were phenomenal by the way. I told them of my awful fear of anything needle-like or medical. So, they gave me some wonderful calming medicine. WoooooHOOOO!! That was great. I mellowed out pretty quickly.
Around 11:45 or so they I walked back to the OR.

I don't remember much back there except for answering a few questions and such. I don't remember counting, or being told to close my eyes... I just remember laying down, talking about missing my massage that I had scheduled... and then waking up in recovery.

The surgery that was supposed to take 1- 1 1/2 hours ended up taking between 2 1/2-3 hours. Apparently the "extensive cholesteatoma" was more extensive than they first thought. In fact, when I went to my post op appointment... the dr. said that it was the largest inner ear cholesteatoma he has ever removed in his 40 years of practice. It was almost 2 centimeters. Which is apparently very large for an inner ear.

Praise the Lord that I went in when I did. The cholesteatoma had all ready started to eat into my mastoid (bone in the inner ear). It did NOT cause permanent hearing loss, or damage to my ear.

So God has been good. I praise Him for taking me through this with minimal pain. The doctor believes it was a successful surgery. I have an appointment September 1 to follow up and to have a CT scan (or MRI, he wasn't sure which he would have ordered) to make sure that all of the cholesteatoma was removed (if not, it could act as a "seed" and grow right back.) I also have yearly visits to look forward to for the years to come. Soooo... I will keep you posted on the situation.

Thanks again for the prayers!

Going out with a.... bang??

Well everyone, this is definitely no the way I pictured my summer going. I've been working a ton, not working at my house enough... and finishing the whole thing with an ear surgery to boot!

I guess each summer is different. I am certainly not trying to come across as whining either. In fact, I am quite appreciative that the Lord has provided so well for us this summer. God has allowed me to have more work than I know what to do with this summer. I have worked almost non-stop at BV, and half way through the summer I was asked if I could fill in at QDC. It's been great. We are well on our way through the Dave Ramsey plan.

Unfortunately, my plans for getting my house completely finished...well hasn't quite gone on. It started out very well at the beginning of the summer, and then we lost traction. Oh well... I guess we have time, huh?

Finally, the ear surgery bit. When we got home from Disney in June, I woke up one morning with an odd sensation. It felt like my ear was asleep. A little numb.. and hearing out of it, was a little more difficult than normal. Needless to say, I didn't pay much attention to it. It only seemed to happen in the mornings if I slept on that side. So... I tried not to sleep on that side... and carried on with life. Then, we went on vacation with my family in July. (Glorious vacation, I must add.) I woke up one morning, feeling the odd sensation, but the hearing difficulty did not subside. In fact, it was worse! Of course, I did what I do best.... sobbed. (What can I say? I thought Jeremy was watching the tv muted, only to find out he had the sound on, and with the wrong ear up, I couldn't hear it. Who wouldn't sob.) When we got home I made an appointment with my longtime ear specialist. A week later (today) I went to his office, he looked me over, ordered a CT scan, then said that I have what is called a Cholesteatoma. (EWww... good explanation on Wikipedia, gross picture. I'd like to think that my condition doesn't look nearly as awful.) The only way to get rid of it, is surgery. So next Thursday, August 12, I will be undergoing a repeat operation of a surgery from 10 years ago.

Needless to say, I ask for and covet your prayers. I tend to be slightly freakish with surgeries. Jeremy will be with me, so that will help. But, really I do appreciate knowing my readership (though small) is praying for me.

Thanks! I will keep you posted.

K