Surgery Day

Today I had my laparoscopy at St. Joseph's Outpatient Surgical Center. I went in at 8am and got called back to the pre-op room around 8:30am. The nurses were awesome and made me feel very comfortable and at ease. (Thanks in part to Dr. Hickox who let me take a Xanex at 7am). At about 9:55am they administered the "sick patch" behind my ear, and some of the drugs through the iv. I am a little fuzzy as to what happened after that. I remember being wheeled into the OR and seeing Dr. Hickox. And I remember someone sticking a mask on my face and telling my to breathe deeply. Then...OUT. I woke up a little less than 2 hours later, and my recovery was supprisingly quick. By 1:40pm I had my text messages sent out, and was on my way home.

Kevin told me that Dr. Hickox told him that I definately have Endometirosis but they were able to vaporize all of it. Most of it was on my right side, (which I knew - thats where all my pain was!) and there was some on my colon and rectum. Lovely. The doc also said that there is a 50% chance of it returning. On a side note, which I thought was weird, he told Kevin that I healed 'beautifully' from my 2 c-sections, considering I had them so close together.

Praise God for my wonderful husband. He was so diligent in keeping watch that he never even went to the bathroom. My parents and brother babysat the kids for us, which was awesome. They love Grammy and Poppy and Bubbo. We went straight there, so I could see my kids. I was moving suprisingly well. On our way home with the kids, we stopped at Jack-in-the-box and I got a chicken sandwhich and some french fries. I ate it all!!! Then I fell into a comatostic-ish nap and was completely out of it for about 2 hours. Now Im awake again and I feel pretty good. Kev went to pick up my meds (vicodin and motrin) and I think Im going to be going to bed early. hehehe.... The nurses also told me that the first 2 days would be the most painful.

I'm just moving slow and taking my time, listening to the doctors and not trying to over-do it. I wont be able to dirve for 2 weeks, until at least the 14th, when I have my post-op appt. I also can't lift either one of my kids, nor can I push a shopping cart or the stroller for 2 weeks. It is going to be interesting bacause my appt is the 14th of September, and Lodi's K9 trial is the 12th. I guess I'll just take it a day at a time and keep praising God for my healing and recovery.

*Thank-you to all of my friends who have prayed for me, and been so wonderful in supporting me and my family through all this. Erica, Kimber, Katrina, Carie (and Brad), Aunt Anna, Aunt Audra, Mom and Ralph, I have apreciated your prayers more than I can express. Kevin, thank you for being wonderful. 143.*

Yosemite!!

Monday we went to Yosemite with the Brucia Family, some good friends of ours. We had such a blast! We got a later-than-anticipated start, but still managed to get there in one piece, in one car. Can you picture 4 adults and 3 carseats squashed in a Sequoia? It was interesting! We didn’t see a whole lot, only the valley floor. We stopped at the swinging bridge, and had lunch in a picnic area near El Capitan. It was great to hang out and bbq some hotdogs, until the bees drove us back to the car. While we were eating a Park Ranger came around and warned us of a bear being brazen and stealing food off picnic tables – while there were people sitting at them! (Personally I’d love to know who those people were, that didn’t notice a bear coming to steal some lunch.) After a good meal we went to the Visitor Center, where Justice and Kellen became Junior Rangers. This was Justice’s 3rd time completing a booklet at a National Park (Lake Mead and Death Valley) and being sworn in as a Junior Ranger. I guess I’m going to have to buy her the vest to put them all on! After that we decided to drive home. It was a pretty long day, and the kids were getting a little cranky. All 3 of them slept (a little) on the drive back. It was a great day and a much needed get-away to break up the monotony.

Need A Break

I feel as though I have been running full-steam for weeks, and I have a few more days to go before I will get any rest at all.

Tomorrow is our family fun day. I have been begging, literally, to do something fun before I am out of commission. We should be finishing up our landscaping, and laying weed blocker, but I am landscaped-out. In fact, I am completely chored-out. So we are going to Yosemite National Park for a short day-trip tomorrow with some friends of ours. We are all taking our kids, so there won't be any hikes to half dome, but we should be able to get a look at Bridal Veil Falls, and check out the museums and Visitor's Center to stamp our National Parks passports. Yes, I have them. They are such a cool way to document what National Parks you've been to. And each of my kids has their own, so someday they can have something tangible from their childhood, besides miscellaneous drawings and a few pictures to remember stuff by.

(I will be posting pictures. I am so excited!)

Tuesday morning Kevin has to go out and finish fundraising. Ugh, don't get me started. Let's just say that I am soooooo glad next year is our LAST year in the k9 unit. Unless they promote Kevin out of the unit sooner. (doubtful)...

Wednesday Kevin has Black Pajama training all day, and I am driving down to have lunch with my Aunt Anna and cousin Rebekah in Modesto. Wednesday evening we have a Black Pajama BBQ and Kevin is being honored with his 5-year pin. It's exciting. He is so dedicated to his job and I am very proud of him. (I know you are reading this. 143.)

Thursday, in case you have missed me complaining about it for weeks, is THE day. Ugh. Say a prayer for me. I am nervous and honestly, a little scared. I know fear is not of the Lord, and I know I have nothing to worry about, but I think a few butterflies just can't be helped...

I probably won't be posting much the first couple days after.

SSF K9 Trial 082209

Saturday August 22, we went to the South San Francisco K9 Trial (Patrol Competition).

Overall, we had a good time, and we won some stuff at the banquet raffle. The kids' faces are a little pink but thankfully no sunburns. We had to get up at 5am to leave, and it was a struggle with the kids. They both usually sleep until 8am, and neither one of them slept at all on the 1.5 hr drive. The day started out with a lot of waiting, and ended with a very tired Kent family.

Here are some pictures documenting our busy day:

I cannot remember the last time I was awake enough to see the sunrise! Really humbling to think that God created something so vast and complex, and yet still cares about me!

South San Francisco High School, where the Patrol Trial was held had a great view...

...except that it was right next to the airport, and every time a plane flew over it was SO loud!!

Search Phase: 4th place with a time of 37 seconds. Justice calls it "playing hide-and-seek with the bad guys"

Kevin and Kayden hanging out in the truck in between phases. "cheese, Mommy"

My favorite pic of the day! Bronx mid-air on a jump to a catwalk, during the Agility Phase.

Kev carrying Bronx during Agility.

Bronx sitting on a barrel during Agility. He LOVES this. Weird dog.

The kids were troopers and they didnt have any major blow-ups! Such a blessing!

Kayden sleeping in the make-shift tent we made over his carseat to keep the sun out. Thank God he napped at all. So lucky!!

Justice watching the handler's meeting for the Protection Phase.

Bronx "finding the bad guy" in the shed during Protection.

Gggrrrr...... get'em Bronx!! The Protection is always the crowd's favorite to watch.

Kev and Bronx won 4th place for the Search Phase. We were SHOCKED Bronx did so well, he is a great street dog, but usually does horrible at trials. This is Bronx's 1st award at a tiral. (and last).

Busy week ahead!

Phew! I am relieved that today is Thursday. I will be even more relieved if Kev can come home early tonight, and go in late tomorrow. We have soooo much to prep and chores to do to get ready for next Thursday. Coming home early means that if enough graveyard people show up for work, he can come home when they log on. Like 9pm. I cannot tell you how exciting that prospect is. More often than not we are disappointed to learn that someone on 'yard calls in (doesnt come to work), and Kev has to work the whole shift. Tomorrow Kevin works at 12-noon and is scheduled to get off at 10pm. (this is because we are attending a k9 trial in SF on Saturday and they give him an 8-hour rest period in between. Confusing, I know.. So he is hoping to get off work around 9pm tonight, and go in late tomorrow, around 4pm.

So, Saturday we are up and at it early, and on the road to SF for a k9 trial at 5am (not usually one of my favorite things) and Sunday Kev is back to work his regular shift.

Monday we are taking the day off from regular chores and landscaping, and going to Yosemite for the day with some friends. I am excited to take the kids - they will love it!

Tuesday we've got to make sure the house is clean and all the chores are done. Kev has Black-Pajama day on Wednesday (aka SWAT) and it is the yearly bbq, after training. Kevin is getting his 5 year pin at the bbq. SO proud of him. I cannot believe that he has been a member of the Black Pajama Club for 5 years already! Good job, hubby!!

Then there is Thursday the 27th..... ugh!

Landscaping Part 1

I haven't been posting a lot lately, because we've been tearing up our front yard over the past week. Literally. Our yard was SO embarassing. In some places the weeds were so high you'd expect to see an old rusted car on blocks amongst them. Im not kidding!! I didnt take any before pictures, but Ive got some of the progress. We still have a ways to go, but we are so very proud of what we have accomplished together, Kevin and I. We are excited at the prospect of getting things together over the next month, and having the yard pretty much finished! Yay!

Looking at the front half of our front yard, without the arbor.

Kevin and Justice preping the arbor for removal from original location. We didn't put it there - it was there when we moved in! Kevin taking out the bolts.. Do I have to explain why I like this picture? hehe.... Justice gave up arbor work and took up bubble blowing.

The kids got tired of Justice not producing enough bubbles fast enough, so I turned on the bubble machine. Kayden loved it!

With Justice and Bronx's supervision, Kevin and I got the arbor taken down!

We had to take a break in the day to take Justice to the doctor (her eye was really red and she had a little lump on her eyelid. It was a stye. Now it's all gone!). Kayden was entertained playing with Daddy's hat while waiting for the doc.

After Justice got her sucker for being a good patient we had to go to Lowe's to get some yard supplies including weedblocker, and quick cement and new brackets for the arbor, and a new tree! The kids LOVE "driving" the carts at Lowe's. Our friends came over to help, and I left the arbor moving - and measuring to the guys. I think it's gonna look great right there. See the little bush we planted last week? By next summer, it's going to be the same size as all the other bushes and it will look great!

Kevin cutting down a white birch tree that was near the house - I really DON'T like those trees! I am sooooo glad it's gone!

Shana and Kellen watching Kevin cut down the tree.

And where was Kayden during all the excitement? In the garage, playing with Daddy's tools, of course! Such a typical BOY!

After the brackets were set in the cement, we put up the arbor. It looks great!! I am sooo excited!

*Sorry the pictures arent the greatest quality - I took them all with my Blackberry!*

Redeeming Love

A novel by Francine Rivers.
Loved it!
Read it in 34 hours.
The book is (in a nutshell) about a man who is told by God to marry a woman who is a prostitute. Much like Hosea and Gomer of the Bible. In fact, the name of the man is Michael Hosea. The woman is Sarah - who concieves with a barren womb.
It is a sobering reminder of God's forgiveness, patience and perfect love for us. His REDEMPTION. We must learn to forgive ourselves, before we can love someone completely and wholely- even if the person we think we love can see beyond our sins and love us.
I could see various stages of my life throught the book. No, I am not nor have a ever been a prostitute. But I played the run-away game with Kevin early on in our relationship. I wanted to see if he loved me enough to follow me, or come get me. Not like the character in the book, I never ran away to another city; and I would only 'run away' after an argument. No, I ran away to the couch. I have never done that because I felt unworthy -like Sarah in the book. Only because, like I said, my feelings were hurt and I wanted to see if he would even notice I wasn't in the bed. Needless to say, this never worked out for me, and now I lay in bed and pull all the covers off him and hit him with pillows - but that's a topic for another time.
I recommend the book, if you want an encouraging word of redemption, or if you enjoy a good romance novel.

Need To Vent

Ok, guys.... having a little issue here!

Justice has been having an ongoing issue at church with a bully. She's been hit in the face on 3 occations (once with a piece of bark) and pushed into something once. Thats 4 incidents. Why didn't I learn the first time around?! (or second? or third?)

Anyway, Kevin called the person in charge and that person couldnt even call him back! The secretary called ME. Shouldnt the CHURCH be a little more responsible than that??

Wednesday Justice was punched in the face. She's got a little bruise under her eye and a scratch on her cheek.

Today we had a long talk about church and she started crying! She told me that she "gets hurt from the mean kid" (<-dont want to mention the name). I feel like Ive failed my daughter. Ive been praying and praying about it, but I just cannot get over that I put her in the situation that got her hurt. I knew it was going to happen again! I emailed the person in charge prior to Wednesday and was assured that the bully would have constant supervision.

I am burning with anger. Why? Why didnt the kids have supervision, like I was promised? Why was he even in her class? Why couldnt the people in charge keep an eye on the bully???

Remember when I ranted about friends that weren't being good friends? Well, I got another lesson when one of these people was running the class that Justice was in, when she got punched. So that's what this world has come to? You don't like me, so you let my kid be a victim?

AAAAHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!! Well, now you know how you can be praying for me. For Justice. Thanks!

The One Where She Rants

...about what "days off" mean to this stinking department.

Would you like to know? Too bad, Im going to tell you anyways. They mean nothing. Zilch. Why would they schedule training on days a man (who puts in 12 hour days there)'s day off??? DAY OFF, people! It's supposed to mean: no, he will not answer his phone, he is playing with his son. No, he cannot cover for people who are pretending to be sick, his daughter needs Daddy to change the batteries (I could write another whole post about how it's just not fixed right unless Daddy does it - whats up with that?!). No, this man is NOT going to work overtime for no cash, bacause his wife is neglected and needs a little quality time.

This man has other duties, you know? Duites that can mean more than a paycheck. Which, by the way, is not effected AT ALL by this needless overtime.

So what, if he doesnt have to wear a unifrom, it's still important!

So what, if he doesnt have to carry a gun, he is still protector!

UGH! Days off mean nothing to people with such a fluid schedules that they never miss anything important at home. If you are "scheduled" to be off work at 5pm and you leave at 4pm just because you can, Im sure you have no concept of that which I am detailing.

Ok, "brass". You can steal the time away. For now. But some day, I promise, we will infultrate your domain and we, too, will not care -so much- about "days off".

Until then, I guess, we pretent we arent tired. We miss Daddy when he is gone and we pray for him to come home. We 'chin up' and sleep tight knowing that just because it is supposed to be Daddy's day off, he is keeping someone's life safe.

There is no pricetag on safety. I guess that is what makes the job worthwhile.

3am

As I sat in the dark crying, wondering why it is so hard for anyone to love me - a profound thought emerged. It that what Jesus thinks? Is that how He feels? Does he feel abused by people who pretend to love Him on Sundays but curse His name during the week? Does Jesus long to tell people that He only wants to love them? To shake them and until they get it? That they don't have to do anything but open their hearts and love Him back? To accept His love?

I guess I don't see my tearful imaginings as a proclamation of self-pity. Of course I am not unloved! God met me on the couch and turned it into a wonderful opportunity to see Him. To maybe have a deeper understandng of His unfailing love for me.

I'm sure this is going to be one of the most interesting Sundays I've ever had, and I haven't even been to church yet!

White Girl Got Moves!

For sure, my daughter is the greatest dancer that I know.

I think she learned these moves from her Daddy. (well, definately the hip movements - hubby can hula!)

Lisa... Is That You?!

Lisa Turtle...Saved By The Bell....Geez! I didn't realize that that show was on a hundred years ago. Maybe that's becasue Mario Lopez (Slater) looks the same. But what in the world happened to Lark?? She looks hideous. And she looks a little...um... masculine, to be nice.

Ouch, girl. Time for another face lift. Whoever did your last one should go to jail for patient cruelty.

If you think this picture is a joke, think again. Go see for yourself. It wasnt photoshopped AT ALL!!!!

http://omg.yahoo.com/photos/what-were-they-thinking/3128?nc#id=4

The Missy Project

Spreading awareness for The Shack by WM. Paul Young.

Everyone gets a different message from the book, at least the few people that I have encountered who have read the book. I have so much to say about this book, I could write (type) about it for days. I took up about a third of my journal, scribbling my ideas and reactions while I was reading.

I encourage anyone and everyone to read this book. It will, at the very least, open your eyes to your own 'humanness' and judgemental tendencies. For me, it deepened my relationship with God as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. I have a copy I will loan out, and my convictions for this book are so strong, I will BUY you your own copy if you promise to read it. You dant have to talk about it. Just read the whole thing!!

If you want to discuss it further, I'd LOVE to chat about it! Email me!!

**THANKS, MOM FOR RECOMMENDING IT! - and AA too!**

Im going to restrict my blog

I am going to add the email addresses of the blogs that I read, and the people that I know read my blog. But for privacy, I am going to restrict access. So if you regularly read this (not via email-that part will not change, so Nana, Aunt Anna, and Aunt Audra, Mom and Kev you can ignore this) please send me your email address and I will add it to the list, and you will have to log in to read my posts. Sorry, guys. But people are losers and like to snoop. I will keep this up and open until Monday, then I will add the email address and begin to restrict public access. Thanks for understanding!!

Where is August Going???

August 8th??? What?!?!

Where is this month going? It shows no signs of slowing down, either! Today there is a birthday party for a friend of Justice's (Katie is 4). AND the wedding of a guy Kevin works with, that I knew from High School... AND Kev works regular patrol.

Tomorrow is a regular Sunday workday, church and all.

Next week should also fly by, sence Kev only has 2 days off and Monday he has court, and we have another wedding (this time a friend of mine since Kindergarden) AND Kevin has late-night k9 training.. Whew! Tuesday we have more landscaping work to do and a bbq with some long-lost friends (who only live around the corner) who live the crazy cop-life like we do. It'll be fun to at least get our kids together to play.

Wednesday Kevin works day-shift again, Thank God! Justice has AWANAs, and I have Bible study, so we'll be at church all evening.

Thursday and Friday are regular work days for Kevin, and I will be able to get caught up on chores. The weekend should be low-key, just more landscaping. Hopefully we will get the front yard done.

Monday the 17th I have another doctor appt.in the morning, and maybe we'll have a bbq that eve, there are some friends we've been trying to have over for some RockBand fun, but they, too, live the crazy cop-life and we just havent been able to nail down a day. I guess we'll see... Wednesday Kev goes back to work and we have a k9 trial in San Francisco that weekend. We're going to try to do the Angel Island/Alcatraz tour while we're there because its on the list of Parks to close (although Angel Island is NPS-ran). So pray for us, the tours combined are about 5.5 hours long. Thats going to make for some cranky kids!

The next week we have a Black Pajama bbq and everyone knows the day Im dreading coming up...

Kevin has to try to squeeze in more fundraising for Lodi's K9 trial (on Sept 11th and 12th) in between all this madness..

(Good luck with that, honey. lol.)

It sounds like a lot, but its really not more than any other month. I am just flabbergasted that it is August already and it doesnt seem like it!

Well, Im off to get ready for this crazy day!

Chao!

Uuhhh....Sotomayor sworn in ?

Ok, I just cannot avoid making this one point on the seperation of church and state issue that has the whole city of Lodi buzzig right now.

Still reeling from Wednesday's prayer rally and news coverage, I cannot promise that this will be the last you will hear from me on the subject, but I do promise that I am not a Bible-thumping soapbox-toting Christian out to defend my beliefs (at least not via this medium).

This morning, Sonja Sotomayor was sworn in as an associate justice of the Supreme Court. Complete with her hand on a Bible -held by her mother, and the words "...so help me God."

Didnt the people who speak so ignorantly on the seperation of church and state see the coverage all over every news channel this morning?? Didnt they see the Bible?? Didnt they hear those words?? Where are they, hunkered in their houses, with no televisions?? Come on, people! WAKE UP!!! This country was founded on religious freedom - the freedom to have a relationship with God Almighty without the rules of the Church of England. Dont you know your history??

There is no seperation of God and the government. And no matter how hard people try to remove His Holy Name from documents, currency, and the Pledge of Allegiance, He will always be there. You cannot get-rid of God.

And I, personally, take comfort in that, thankyouverymuch!

Sometimes I get soooooo mad...

I refuse to comment on the City Council's decision to remove the invocation of Jesus from prayer before meetings.

I get so fired up, it makes me cry. And people are ignorant and do not understand that it's not about what diety you worship. I know my American History well enough to say that this nation WAS founded on the basic belief in the Soverign God. His name is on our currency, and in our Pledge Of Allegiance.

The fact that a PASTOR, said he "doesnt think God needs us to defend Him" needs to brush up on his Bible. aaaaggggghhhhhh!!!!!! People, you ignorance never ceases to suprise me!

To quote the infamous Forrset Gump, "That's all I have to say about that."

You can read the article and comments yourself at:

http://www.lodinews.com/articles/2009/08/06/news/1_prayer_090806.txt

No 9-5 in this household...

AGAIN! Why can't my husband have a boring job? Ok, so that's not his personality. Or his idea of living a productive life. But, still.... I cannot tell you how many people call, etc, and say they see my dear, quiet-natured Kevin doing something exciting and dangerous in the paper. Sometimes he forgets to tell me about it and it ends up in the paper. This, however, is not one of those times. Here is a link to the Lodi News Sentinal article about yesterday's exciting adventure that inhibited Lodi's K9 guys from going to the SJSO K9 Memorial. If you view it, 2 of the 14 pictures in the flash player slideshow are of Kevin and Bronx. http://www.lodinews.com/articles/2009/08/06/news/2_pursuit_090806.txt Gotta love this life!

My letter to the Editor was published!

In today's Lodi News Sentinal.
Yay, me!

Dear Editor,
Health care bill should not include abortion
I thought that the Freedom of Choice Act was not going to happen and that taxpayers would not be forced to fund abortions. However, the abortion lobby has found a way to get the cornerstone issue of FOCA passed & they're trying to get taxpayers to fund abortions through the proposed health care reform bills.

For more of this story, click on or type the URL below:

http://m.lodinews.com/articles/2009/08/04/opinion/letters/ltr_kent_090804.txt

Why Can't A PW Be Proud?

What is wrong with this country?! What is wrong with people?! I am so tired of not being able to be proud of my husband. I can't tell many people what he does, I cant wear the "Police Wife" tee shirt, why???

Because it would make me a target? Though I am unafraid, if something were to happen to my husband or children.....let's not go there.

There is a certain mystique about LE. I get it. It's for safety. But why do jobs that are so cool you want to brag, have to require a level of anonymity? It is very frustrating. I know that what is on the internet is pretty much there to stay. And I know that just because there is a pic of my hubby in the newspaper, doesn't meant that I can share it with the world.

But who wouldn't be proud of someone who does all my super-cop hubby does?

Who wouldn't want to brag about the Black Pajama ops and K9 deploys and D-Tac moves he's taught me? Who wouldn't want to brag about winning competitions and major arrests?

Who doesn't need support, after hearing about the scum of the earth, the Chester victims, and the 187 victims? WHO?!?!

Who doesn't want to share such a big part of their lives with people that can relate, in a medium like a blog, where it can be told once, not rehashed on an individual basis?

aaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhh!!!!!!!!