Whoops! I forgot about doing a surgery update.

Obviously, I survived :)

I am just about one month out and doing amazingly well. My incisions are all healed. I have about another month of lifting restrictions as my insides take a bit longer to heal than the outside. Initially, I was quite tired after surgery, napped everyday, lived on protein shakes, water and liquid pain medication(which by the way makes cough medicine taste like candy. Blech!!).

In the last week my energy has returned, I feel like me again and have even put make-up on a time or two! I am already down over 20 pounds which is amazing to me...a couple more pounds and I will have lost a whole Chary! I just got clearance for exercise other than walking and am meeting a trainer at the gym today.

I owe all of you a huge thank you - for your support, prayers and positive thoughts. The flowers, cards, visits, help with the kids etc meant so, so much to me. Darren and I could not have managed this without all of you. From the bottom of our hearts....thank you!

St Valentine's Day

Since Ayla was born, Darren and I have made Valentine's Day about family. We always make King crab legs, an amazing spinach/bacon/feta salad, order the biggest and best chocolate covered strawberries you can imagine and sip sparkling fruit juice from champagne flutes. Darren and I celebrate together, either on the weekend before or after with a quiet and romantic little dinner somewhere out on the town.

We have three beautiful little Valentines who play the part well, the girls dressed in hearts from head to toe and of course, "Mr Irresistible". This morning the kids all opened their Valentines from us and each other along with a couple of little gifts we got them. Tonight, Papa and Gigi are coming for dinner...the kids are excited, of course. Grandpa John and Grandma Carol sent gifts for the kids too, I love all of the little holidays with kids. I love how special it makes them feel and how happy and full our hearts are.

Happy Valentine's Day!!