MIA and other stuff... including a Hot Topic

So... Michelle Dugger is pregnant again, with baby #19.  There is a new article up on Parent Dish where she is talking about her morning sickness and how her and Anna (her Daughter-In-Law).  Her first Grandchild will be born before her youngest child is.   I have somewhat conflicting opinions on this.  One one hand I can't help but thing, ENOUGH ALREADY ...  but then another part of me knows that being uber-fertile and waiting healthy womb, I probably wouldn't be done.  I wanted a dozen kids (Baker's Dozen actually) but it's not in the cards for me.  I know that having a large family (even at 6, mine is considered "large") ..  first thing you teach your kids is responsibility and how important it is for them to look after the younger kids.  Anyway - a big part of me (the part not screaming ENOUGH ALREADY) admires them.   I miss my huge family I grew up in.  I'm so use to people going in and out and whatever, having huge family dinners, it's the type of family I always wanted and hope I'll have with the boys.  I hope we don't live on different sides of the country, that we can easily see each other.  Anyway .... enough of that. 

I have been out of sorts this week.  Our first week really homeschooling everyday and getting stuff done.  In addition to that, I found out a few days ago that I will be having surgery in a few weeks.  (September 18th)  Now I'm scared :(   See, I have a HUGE hernia.   I discovered it when I was doing sit-ups one day and ignored it for a long time (being afraid it was a tumor) ...  eventually I went in for it.  Then ended up in the ER one night cuz it was hurting.  Then to my general DR, and then (this week) to the surgeon.   After talking and then examining me, I was told it was a very large hernia, due to my multiple c-sections... thanks kids! ... and that I did need surgery...  and infact, he wanted to do it soon.  So I'm thinking a month or so, and she comes in and says "September 18th" ...  ah... what??   September 16th is Nathan's Autism Clinic.  September 19th is my 15 year High School Reunion.  NICE... real nice.   So now, being told I will have a limit of "UNDER 10 LBS" that I can pick up after the surgery for several weeks, I can't even pick up Nathan!  He's a featherweight!    So I was originally told it would be an outpatient surgery at the clinic surgery center, and 4 weeks of weight restriction ... and now it's been changed to the hospital and a longer time of weight restrictions.  The DR feels it's so large that he may not be able to do the lapro surgery, though he's going to try, and that he wants me at the hospital because it's going to be more evasive then normal regardless of  it being lapro or if they have to cut me fully open.  Not only that but it's a "30 hour Outpatient" which means I may be kept overnight depending on how things go.  GAG ...  I don't wanna - don't make me.   I'm scared.

Anyway ...  Noah and I have been working on his reading and he can sound out a word PERFECTLY but has trouble putting those sounds together into a word.   We're working on it right now though.  

Calahan has put up his blogs about his trip to South Dakota!!!   Please check them out and leave him a note!!  There are 4 entries about his trip, each entry covers a day.     WOLF OF THE SEA