Hello, lovelies, have you missed me?

I've been a bit self-indulgent these last few months. With having yet ANOTHER surgery, separating from the Navy, moving, and opening our own dental practice, we've had just a few things on our plate lately.



So I apologize.



In case anyone noticed that I was gone.

But here I am! So let me fill you in on the last four months.

First of all, health-wise: I had yet another surgery to try to correct the problem that was causing my pain. I had a triple-nerve neurectomy and wound dissection done under general anesthesia, and for a few weeks afterwards I actually thought that it was going to work. But then, just like clockwork, I woke up one morning and had that same old pain again, the aching, gnawing, terrible pain that makes me want to die. And it's been there ever since. Lovely. SO, with the separating from the Navy thing hanging over my head, I had to go through multiple exams and appointments at the VA to have them "rate" me and my "disability", since it started on active duty, apparently the Navy is going to take care of my medical care and prescriptions for the rest of my life, as long as I'm treated at a military treatment facility. So I've got THAT going for me. Since we just recently separated from the Navy, I now have to send in my final separation paperwork and they will rate my disability, give me a percentage based on what their exams saw. And then, depending on the percentage, I'll be getting a check every month for the rest of my life and be eligible for care at VA facilities. So there's your silver lining, folks. They're paying me with money for my pain and suffering. I'd rather have a cure, but I'll take what I can get these days.

We moved from Antioch, IL to Lee's Summit, MO on September 13th. We thought that we would have a few weeks to get settled before hitting the ground running with the practice but we were oh. so. wrong. From the minute we rolled into Missouri, it's been nonstop with just stuff. We've not had a moment to relax in the last 4 months, hardly. BUT, the practice is now up, open, and running and we're starting the fill the books more every day. It's my dream, it has been forever, and our practice is everything I've ever wanted and more. It turned out so well that I can hardly believe it's ours. I keep feeling like we're going to have to get on a plane and go back to Great Lakes any minute, like this is just some dream, some vacation, that's going to end eventually. But you know what? IT'S NOT! We're free, free, FREE from the Navy and now WE'RE calling the shots. And I'd be lying through my teeth if I told you that didn't feel pretty great.

I ended up hiring some great girls. I mean, MAN, did we get lucky. I've got wonderful people working for us and they all get along! It's almost too good to be true. I'm sure that as we grow and expand, we'll go through some growing pains somewhere, but for now? I've got the perfect staff. AND, I was able to hire Paula Schultz as our office manager, someone that I'd worked with back in Maryville when I was a teenager working for Dr. Phil. She's been like another mom to me for so long and I KNOW that she's amazing at what she does, I just got lucky enough to have her living near me and available and willing to come to work with us. Glynn loves her as much as I do (well, almost) and we thank our lucky stars every day that she's part of our practice. She's become indispensable to us so quickly that I hope she works with us forever!

The kids are doing great. We've got Maddie and Brady in a Kindercare nearby our house (like, seriously, it's two minutes away) and they LOVE it. I'm so glad we found such a great place so quickly. Maddie turned 5 in September and just missed the cutoff for kindergarten so she'll start next year. Meanwhile, she and Brady are happy as clams in their new classrooms, and every day they tell me, "I had a GREAT day today, Mommy!" They especially love show-and-tell Wednesdays and learning German, Spanish, and sign language.

Annie and Sarah are doing well in their schools in Belton. We're able to see them so much now, it's awesome. We have them every Wednesday and every other weekend (although lately it's been every weekend, woo-hoo!). I just took them back-to-school clothes shopping recently and found out that they were both wearing pants about 4 sizes too small! No wonder Annie's ass was hanging out of all of her shorts, I just thought she was trying to be too grown up, but it turns out she just didn't have anything that fit her! Poor kids. Also, Annie's been telling us she's having trouble seeing the board at school so we took her to get her eyes checked last week, and yep, you guessed it, the girl needs glasses. I'm just glad we took her to get it checked out! I don't know HOW long she'd been struggling like that!

I took the girls last week to get new hairdos, too. Annie got a wave perm, which looks just darling on her, and Sarah got a cute little bob cut just below her chin. Again, adorable. (Naturally). They're both doing great, considering. Their mom and step-dad split up over the summer and they've had to recently move to a town-house with their mom and little sister, so they've had their little lives turned upside down recently. I'm just glad we're back to help out, and provide some stability in their lives right now. It's confusing and hurtful when parents have problems, and especially when Dan (their stepdad) has become such a huge part of their lives and they love him so much. He's a great guy and we've been really glad to have him be around to be such a great influence on the girls, so we were a little concerned for them to lose him so suddenly. Although, lately, they've gotten to start going to church with him on the weekends that they're with Teri, and I think they get to see him pretty often through the week.

So that brings us up to speed, I suppose, although it's a highly edited and expedited version of the events of the last 4 months. And no update would be complete without some sad news, as well: My Uncle Jack died this week. He had been very sick for a very long time and it was expected, but it's never easy.

Dad and I went to a memorial service today at Camp Geiger, where Jack had wanted his ashes spread. Jack, Dad, and their sons all were big into Scouts, and had went up the ranks through the Mic-O-Say tribe and Eagle Scouts. Jack's wishes were to have his ashes spread at the point at Camp Gieger, around the Mic-o-Say fire pit, where they did their ceremonial dances and such. It's forbidden to go there if you are NOT a Mic-O-Say scout, so we had to get special permission to go there and have family members present for the service. It was short, simple, and to the point. Joyce's minister came and said some very nice and comforting words, and my dad was the one to spread Jack's ashes. I don't think Jack would have had it any other way. In fact, a bit of the ashes blew back onto Dad's leg and boot, so he brought a bit of Jack home with us today. We had a good laugh about that.

Although that side of our family has a complicated past, it was good to be there today to have closure and say goodbye. We've long since put our differences aside, and Jack and Joyce have made an effort to be closer to the family for years, with much success. But with a long and sometimes painful family history, it makes for some complex emotions at a time like this. I was just glad to be with Dad today.

So there's my story of the last four months. We're up at Mom and Dad's tonight and I'm grateful to be here, this is one of the places where I feel most serene and safe and comforted. You never get too old to want to just go home sometimes. And you NEVER outgrow wanting Mom and Dad, no matter how old you get. I know that much is true.

Goodnight and God bless, everybody. I appreciate any prayers for our family right now, we can always use them.