So the beginning of Nov. was pretty much a whirlwind as Matt was super busy at work, we were trying to get Brinley help for her four-month long green, goopy nose and cough and I was frantically trying to get my work done before my tonsillectomy. Life at the Leibrock house was insane! It's so so crazy looking back (again, it's actually February as I write this) as I'm not quite sure how we made it through. It has definitely been our most challenging season to date. But we did it. We didn't kill each other and I know we are better off for it.
We also had wonderful friends and family who sent us words of encouragement, helped us out with daycare stuff for Brinley and lots and lots of prayers. God provides richly and abundantly during our seasons of need, that's for sure!
As far as my tonsillectomy recovery, it was about as bad as I expected. The surgery itself went fine and at first the pain was a lot less than I was expecting. However, I ended up in the ER about 24 hours after surgery due to extreme swelling. And the liquid pain medicine I was prescribed really didn't do anything for me so I had to switch pain meds to finally get some relief. Even then, I was taking a pain med every 3 hours 24 hours a day for two full weeks. It was crazy. I also got a bit depressed because of all of the constant pain, inability to do anything, talk, help out around the house, etc. It was quite a challenge both physically and mentally. However, I am SO glad I got them taken out. I've suffered with chronic tonsillitis all my life and I'm so happy to never have to worry about that again. Praise the Lord!
The last week of so of my recovery, Brinley and I went to my parents house in WI and hung out with my mom and Garry through Thanksgiving. We had a great time just relaxing with them and it was really nice to have the help with Brinley. I can't remember the last time I spent so much time at "home" but it was a nice little respite in the middle of the craziness.
Matt was on call for Thanksgiving so he couldn't come, which was hard as both Brinley and I missed him so much that week. However, after Thanksgiving he did come and join us and Matt and I got to go to the Gopher/Badger football game with his cousin Tim and Tim's wife Kristin which was such a fun time. We loved spending time with those guys and hope to make it an annual tradition.
There's not a ton of pics from this month, but here's a few:
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| We no longer do the monthly chair pics, but though it was cute how she was sitting in almost the exact same pose |
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| Except of course of the fact that she is about to dive off! |
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| The week before my surgery, I got to go out to NY to attend the launch party of Reuters TV. Loved being a part of that event! |
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| And I was so pleased to be a part of coordinating a very special Veteran's Day presentation at Thomson Reuters this year. Sal came out and spoke on our Eagan campus and it was an amazing event. So much work to coordinate but everything went flawlessly! |
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| Two years in a row that I've gotten to spend Veteran's Day with this guy. Super fortunate! |
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| Daddy fell asleep next to Brinley :) |
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| Flowers from my work during my tonsillectomy recovery |
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| Dana's life saving chicken pot pie. This was SO nice to not have to worry about dinner for a couple of nights! |
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| Brinley sleeping next to the giant bunny from Great Grandma |
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| Nana/Brinley selfies |
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| This girl absolutely adores her Nana |
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| Build a Bear! |
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| Stuffing her special bear Giggles |
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| Playing at the mall play place afterwards and making new "friends." We don't get to see her interact with other kids to often and it's so cute watching her play. |
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| There she goes! |
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| Sitting with Giggles |
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| Baby in the basket! |
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| This girl! :) |
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| BaPa Garry pulling her on the sled |
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| Can you even handle the cuteness? |
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| Thanksgiving! |
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| Black Friday shopping for Toys for Tots. Robbin and I had so much fun picking out toys for kiddos and getting great Black Friday deals on them. I think this will have to be a tradition! |
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| Family fun out at the winter parade |
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| Great weather for the football game! |
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| The crew! Divided team loyalites but bonded by blood :) |
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| My personal favorite part of the game, watching the marching band at half time! :) |
