Great Wolf Lodge: Fall 2019

We were able to get away during the middle of this week and visit Great Wolf Lodge in Grand Mound, Washington.  This is one of my kiddos favorite places to visit and being that it is only and hour and twenty minutes from our home, it is convenient as well.  

I hadn’t planned on a trip this fall, because we are taking the kids to Disneyland in November. However, I was sent a coupon for $99 dollars a night for the six of us, and I jumped at this deal. In the past, during the summer we have paid three times that amount for one night at GWL.  

My kiddos had some days off this week so they all only missed one day of school.  When we arrived at GWL they offered us a room upgrade to a two bedroom and two bathroom.  Umm yes please!!! The lodge was practically empty, compared to other times we have been there.  When we checked in at 12:30pm our room was already ready for us and we hit the water park.  

Matthew absolutely loves the water and went down the purple kid water slide approximately 784 times.  Over and over and over and over and loved every single time!  The olders did the large water slides and the wave pool.  After we left the water park, the kids played Magi Quest and bingo.  They also got to trick or treat inside the lodge that night.

I think the highlight for me was watching Bella win the major Monster Jackpot in the arcade.  I gave each kiddo a $10 arcade card for games.  And she wins 2500 tickets!!!  She came away with an LOL doll pillow, a GWL Rainbow Bear and other goodies.  Seriously it was the most fun thing to watch. Luke absolutely loves the Magi Quest game and now that he has a cell phone it is nice he can go play and we can check in with him.  He started a new game this trip since he completed the last quest.  

It was nice just to take a break.  From therapy and routine and VIPKID and all my daily to do lists and responsibilities.  Both Mark and I needed to just hang with the kids, and that is exactly what we did!  Now the countdown is on to Disneyland!  I am so excited...maybe even more excited than my kids!

Life @ The Dahlhouse: 8 Week Hysterectomy Recovery

I can hardly believe it has been 8 weeks since my hysterectomy!  Most days go by and I do not think about the fact that I recently had surgery.  It seems like long ago already.  For the most part, recovering from the hysterectomy has been easy.  Again, the part I found most difficult was not being able to pick up Matthew.  I think we both did pretty well with the restrictions.  Although, towards the end of the recovery, we were feeling fairly crabby that I couldn't pick him up.  He would look at me, hold up his arms, and cry, "mama up, pease mama up."  Break.my.heart!  I would gently remind him and show him my "owies" (my 5 small scars from the incisions).  He seemed to understand, although not happy.  At 6 weeks, I had another follow up visit with Dr. Saner.  Thankfully, I had my restrictions lifted, and I was able to pick him up!  It was a good day for us both.

A hysterectomy typically has a 6 week recovery time frame.  During my recovery, life continued on, albeit slowly.  We enjoyed an outing to 7-11 for our free Slurpee's.  I watched my 13 year old daughter grow up a little bit more, and take on more responsibility (especially for Man Cub).

As each week came and went during the recovery, I was able to do a little bit more, and accomplish additional tasks.  I remember taking the kids to the Olive Garden (pictured above) solo around week 3.  I have to say how nice it was to get out of the house and feel "normal".

When I was staying overnight in the hospital, after the hysterectomy was over, I remember telling my sweet nurse how hungry I was.  I had been a on bland diet for two days prior to surgery and everything sounded so good.  I remember telling her in my loopy state, "I want Olive Garden with a side of Chipotle."  She laughed and gave me graham crackers.  Haha.

Summer has been slow, and yet I feel we enjoyed ourselves and didn't miss out on too much.  The 4th of July was the only event I look back on and wish that we could have celebrated.  But I was in no shape to do anything.  Those first two week post hysterectomy are the toughest.  I felt I had been run over.  Dr. Saner said I would be tired...and she was correct!

We watched a lot of cars and life go by from our bedroom window.  He would sit for long periods of time right where you see him above.   He would watch outside, and then every once in awhile exclaiming "white truck," or, "red car" and I would laugh.  I watched him from my bed where I would be laying.  We figured it out.  We also have watched a lot of TV, and I have not felt the slightest bit of guilt at all.  I gave myself permission to let them watch TV, and even embraced this time in our lives by ordering the biggest DISH cable package I could for two months.

At 4 weeks post op, Grace and I went to the Phantom of the Opera.  I felt really good.  I was tired by the end of the night; however, I enjoyed myself very much and was thrilled to share this experience with her.

We made many trips to the library during my recovery.  Each kiddo spent time ready books, even the littlest.  They each joined the summer reading program and have earned prizes for their reading accomplishments.

I survived 4H Clark County Fair at 6 weeks post op, with only one breakdown.  Haha.  I was very tired when the fair was over, and left early a couple of days, but felt no need to apologize because I was doing what was right for me.  (Another post coming on the fair experience soon).

We've played a lot of Legos, and let a lot of rooms go untidied for longer than I would have liked typically.  But, I had one opportunity to heal correctly and I took care of me and let messy rooms go for a bit.

We visited the fair as a family before our 4H events began.

We took a lot of silly pictures...

I tried to stay in each moment, knowing that all too quickly time goes by.

This last weekend we took the kids to Great Wolf Lodge to celebrate them!  They have been troopers through the surgery and recovery.  They have each helped me in so many different ways, and we wanted to do one last fun thing before school began.  I think I might have had as much fun as them!

Finally, the two of us, went to the movies and ate popcorn and nachos for dinner.  Celebrating a new season, a new chapter and us.  I think one of the biggest surprises I have found in this recovery is that I really don't feel different.  I guess I thought I would be aware of what was missing.  The only things that are missing is the incredible pain and bloating I had all the time, and horrible awful periods...which I DONT MISS!!!  I still feel like me.  I still feel like a woman, I don't feel less...if anything I feel like more...so much more.

Life @ The Dahlhouse: Recovery from a Hysterectomy

I made it to the other side of the surgery.  It is a good feeling.  A relief.  Finally, after six months of waiting the surgery has taken place, and I am on the path to recovery.  It will be a long, slow recovery.  Six weeks to be exact.  I want nothing more than to take the time, be slow, don't rush things, and let my body heal the way it needs too.  I have given myself permission to do nothing (which if you know me is uncharacteristic).  I have given myself permission to say no, nap and watch a ton of TV.  I am listening to my body...knowing what I am ready for and what I am not ready for.  I am taking care of me.

The surgery was a success.  Tuesday, June 26 started very early. In many ways the time and hospital reminded me of when I had my C-sections, however, there was enough difference to not make me think too much of that fact.  We checked in at short stay surgery and waited to be called back.  Once back in my pre-op room (221), I got to change into a hospital gown, socks and take a pregnancy test.  I chuckled to myself when the nurse announced it was "negative".  Oh good I thought.  Haha.

Because I was having robotic surgery, and they weren't certain which side they would be doing the procedure on, I was lucky enough to get two IVs.  One on each hand.  The nurse actually did a really good job and was successful the first time on each side.  I was asked a bazillion questions.  I met with two different anesthesiologists.  Dr. Jang and Dr. Lail.  They work in teams, however, Dr. Lail was the main anesthesiologist.  He was very funny and made me feel comfortable.  He answered questions and promised to keep me asleep and comfortable the entire time.  Due to my anxiety, he offered a medication to make me feel very relaxed on the way to the OR, and I gladly accepted.  Dr. Saner came and said hello and asked me if I had any last questions.  After that, things moved quickly.  The OR nurse came, Dr. Lail was there, and the moment he inserted the meds into the IV, I was very relaxed.  I told Mark good bye and they wheeled me down the hall.  I remember entering the OR, seeing Dr. Saner, and moving over to the operating table.  They put a mask over my nose and mouth and that was it.  I then woke up hours later in the recovery room.

My surgery ended up taking longer than anticipated.  It took awhile to get the robot set up and ready and then there were a few unexpected findings during the surgery.  One was that my bladder was adhered to my uterus with scar tissue from my previous csections.  Dr. Saner needed to remove the adhesions.  Then my uterus gave them trouble with them actually removing it.  I have a very small pelvis and that presented an issue.  They were finally able to remove it but it took extra time.  My surgery began at 7:30am and I remember seeing the clock in the recovery room and it said 11:30am.  Everything went well though, and I woke up fine.  I was very groggy the rest of the day, but no nausea (which I was very thankful for).

I was wheeled up to the fifth floor and stayed in room 509.  I don't really remember how I got there...haha.  Mark was waiting, as was the nurse.  All of the nurses I had were very kind, nice and helpful.  They really cared about helping me, how I felt, and making sure I was comfortable.  I was up and walking around by 5pm.  I had to leave the catheter in over night due to the messing with my bladder due to the adhesions.  But it really didn't bother me too much.  Dr. Saner came in an sat down to talk to me about 6:15pm.  She told me all about the surgery and answered some more questions.  She said she would be back tomorrow morning to discharge me.  A wonderful friend who works at Legacy came to visit me in the evening.  I was so happy so see her.  Around 10:30 I settled in for the night. Mark went home to be with the kids around 5pm.  It was very quiet.  I was going to ask for a sleeping pill; however, I fell asleep and slept till 5am.  The nurses left me alone, which was nice (or if they came in, I didn't know...LOL).  Mark arrived with Bella around 10:30 am and we left the hospital around 1pm.  I was very happy to have very normal blood pressures while I was in the hospital.  That was a win for me.

My mom watched the kiddos during the surgery day and for the next two days after I was home.   I was very appreciative.  The kids had a great time with her.  Meals have been arriving from family and friends and boy I am I grateful to not have to think about what to cook.  I am so, so thankful.

So now...it is a day by day process.  I feel a little better each day.  I have 5 incisions from the robot.  They are very small.  I have some internal stitches and my bladder still feels a little off, but each day it is better.  We are taking things very slow over here at the Dahlhouse and it's ok.  In a life that rushes by and moves at a fast pace, it is a good contrast to just be.  

Weeks #20 & #21 @ The Dahlhouse Travels to Maui

For our family vacation this year, we decided to go to Maui.  It had been almost three years since we last visited, and we were thrilled to go back.  The last time we were in Maui, I was pregnant with Man Cub (seems like a lifetime ago).  

The trip started at PDX and we were thrilled (ok BEYOND thrilled) that Hawaiian Airlines had brought back their non-stop flight to Kahului, Maui.  What used to be a whole travel day, from PDX-HNL-OGG (getting to the condo around 5pm Hawaiian time), became a much shorter travel day (arriving at 10:45am Hawaiian time).  

Traveling as a family of six, I always make sure to book seats in the back of the airplane, as not to disturb others around us.  I figure, if we are in the back of the plane, and Man Cub throws a fit or cries, then we are at least in the back (what more can you do)? 

This was not Matthew's first time flying; however, it was his first time really aware of what was going on.  He was very excited to see all the "airpane" as he calls them, but was not so thrilled at take off, protesting, "all-done, all done."  I think it was some sensory overload.  He quickly transitioned into becoming ok, and played musical seats between our two rows.

After landing in Maui, grabbing a bite to eat, we headed to stock up on food for the condo.  Costco is literally right next to the airport, and then a short trip to Foodland.  I forgot how expensive some things are (hello $11 watermelon), but then some things are inexpensive (1.97 pineapple).  I had never seen so many boxes of pineapples. Neither had B.

We stayed at our favorite place ever!  It's called the Hale Hui Kai.  It is literally 20 steps to the beach (which has the softest sand you ever felt).  The kiddos play for hours in the sand and water.  Boogie boarding, snorkeling, wave jumping, sand castle making...it really is the best.  Our condo unit is on the right on the bottom.  We were also close to the pool.  The Hale Hui Kai is located off S. Kihei Rd. in Kihei, Maui.  Look them up.  I can personally give a review of units #109 and #112.  

Grace enjoyed hours of reading.  She has sure turned into a little book worm.  I love that!!  She also was an incredible help with Matthew.

Having never traveled the road to Hana we were up for an adventure this trip.  It was amazing being in a rainforest and seeing the waterfalls.  We stopped at the iconic Halfway to Hana stop and bought their famous banana bread.  It was yummy.  We also stopped at a black sand beach.  It was on my bucket list!  It was truly black sand! I had never seen anything like it before.  

(Three of my kids on a black sand beach)

We traveled up north to Lahaina, to eat at Mark's favorite restaurant...Duke's.  Everyone enjoys it. 

I visited my dad's resting place and laid flowers in the water in honor of him.

After that, we got Hawaiian Shaved iced for all and ate it under the Banyan tree.

There were a lot of beautiful sunsets.  Many have asked if we had VOG or were effected by the Volcano erupting on the Big Island, but the answer was no.  We saw no effects of the volcano on the island of Maui.  

We spent a lot of time on the beach, enjoying the sun.

Or at the pool, which Matthew has named the "cuppy" after his sippy cups that hold water.  Silly kid.

I am happy to report Matthew got his "OWN" ukulele, so now he can stop screaming over Bella's.

Before we knew it, our trip had come to an end.  It always goes by too quickly.  

It was crazy going through TSA in Maui.  We had to remove just about everything from our carry ons.  It literally took 15 minutes to make it all the way through with our stuff.  They ended up checking and opening three of our bags too.  Sheesh.  We barely made it to our flight.

Heading back to the mainland was an adventure in itself. Little help and a lot of stares greeted us on the aircraft.  But we made it and Man Cub even slept through half the flight.  YES!

Before we knew it, we were back where we started and waiting for our ride to come and pick us up. I feel I am still readjusting to life post vacation, and the jet lag was pretty bad this time (as there was a three hour difference).  But we continue to move forward with end of the year activities for school, and getting ready for summer.