THE TRAVELING GARDNERS

How was I able to heal after post surgery??? Sweet treats, good movies, drive to an amazing scenic view off Pali look out, hooters chicken wings, amazing support from family and friends, good pain killing drugs, and more sweet treats! New Yorks famous restaurant Serendipity's Frrrozen Hot Chocolate! Also seen in the movie "Serendipity" with John Cusack and Kate Beckinsale. Now available at your local Williams and Sonoma store. My Momma also spoiled us with getting chocolate chip pancake mix. Also from Williams and Sonoma. And in case you didn't figure it out...the sugar bet is off. Dan won. Leah lost by eating ice cream after a rough dental procedure. It was soooooooooo worth it. ;) But, we are still eating wheat as opposed to white. Healthy choices with treats once in a while is our motto....or atleast what we are attempting.

Update at the bottom of this post! Who's ready to go get Grandma Reva at the airport??? Aunt Judy - Is he a soon to be Stanford boy? I think he likes the shirt..... Either picking his nose, chewing on his hands, or doing a bird call to our backyard....it sometimes sounds like a rainforest. This is a quick update post for you all that read our website. Me - Leah - I am going to be leaving on Monday to fly to my family in San Diego. I am not aloud to lift Ben for another 3 weeks. And at the present time we can't afford a live in nanny or (like Britney Spears) a manny. So, my family is going to help out and spoil little monkey. I am going to miss Dan like mad!!!! :( I won't be returning until August 28th. It works out though because he has to do some Army traning courses for a few weeks and will be gone. So it's best if Ben and I head over to the mainland for awhile. That is the latest. Will post pictures after getting settled in San Diego. Here are some extra pictures ...

So this is what life was like for us, for the past week at our house. Mom and Dan took over Ben watch for me while I rested and recuperated. I love them so much. They have been amazing! Some of our sweet neighbors brought flowers, a gossip magazine to read, and a stuffed animal monkey. Perfect! And our neighbors said that they gave me the monkey, because they knew that I wouldn't be able to hold Ben for awhile. Pretty sweet of them huh? And we have definately felt the love from church members. From a chicken alfredo dinner, to a potted plant of flowers, to baby sitting for Benjamin, and a yummy plate of dessert treats. Thank you!!!!!! Mom posing with the coconut monkey bank that I sent back for my brother, after spring cleaning our house I found it hiding in our bathroom. Momma you look great for having just caught a red eye from San Diego! Daddy Dan feeding our little monkey. And no, you are not seeing things. Dan surprised me.....and shaved his head. He had to have a biopsy don...

So click on the following links to see the hair color I want! I used to have something simliar back when I lived in Utah. http://www.imdb.com/gallery/ss/0389860/Ss/0389860/04781.jpg?path=pgallery&path_key=Beckinsale,%20Kate http://www.imdb.com/gallery/granitz/4919/KateBeckin_Grani_9030408_400.jpg?path=pgallery&path_key=Beckinsale,%20Kate&seq=11

The week before surgery we got the house ready and relaxed at the beach. Here are some pictures of our fun times. Ben get's new crib bedding and loves it! Attempting to roll..... Ever see the movie twins with Danny Devito and Arnold Swartzeneger? Ben's cute new lamp that we found at USA Baby on sale!!!!

Grandma Reva - Thank you for all of your spoiling and all of your help! Ben loves his new diaper bag and matching quilt set! We couldn't have made it through post surgery week without you!!!We miss you!!!!!

Getting a bath after the "got milk" situation turned messy. Run away! I mean Roll away!!! Ben trying to grab daddy's hands after the bath. I'm too sexy for my pack n play...too sexy for my pack n play......

Ben aka: Little Buddha......ssshhh he's meditating..... Dan finishes the kitchen curtains. Don't they look great? Dan finishes the dining room curtains. They really make the house a home! Ben so excited that he is going to the beach. Isn't his little rash guard so cute? Headin to the beach...... The car trip must have tired him out. Because, this is all he did when we were at the beach. We decided to have one last beach trip before the surgery. So we lathered up in sunscreen and headed off to Ko Olina. Our favorite little spot on the island. They have canopy's with shade which is where we hung out. It was great.

They got all the cancer in my shoulder! And they got my biopsy back from the back of my neck and I don't need immediate surgery!!!! Yeah!!! I still have about 3 weeks before I can lift anything, so we might still try and get Daniel out here to help with lifting and taking care of Ben and the house. But I do have a right arm for now to do as much as possible. And my mom and Dan have been amazing with cleaning and cooking. Back to resting. I am still on antibiotic and can't keep my fever down. Will update later with pictures. Take care! -Leah

To all of you that check our blog here is a little update. First, this has taken awhile because I only have a right arm to use. My left shoulder had surgery in two spots. A total of 32 stitches. I have a 100' temperature with tylenol and I am now on antibiotic because I have some type of infection. They can't figure it out though. My temp is 99.8 with tylenol??? What the stink is going on? All in all I feel like utter and total poo. Sorry no updates through e-mail or phone calls. I am just resting here at home while my momma spoils us rotten. She has been able to help with cleaning, cooking, and oh so much more. Because, I will most likely need more surgery and I am not aloud to lift with my left arm for a month we are looking into how to get Ben taken care of with a one handed mommy. (Still waiting on biopsy to come back from back of neck, and tissue from surgery to verify that they got all the cancer.) It's really just a waiting game. Trying to stay positive but preparing...

Happy 1st Fathers Day Dan!!!! Dan got spoiled with sausage gravy and biscuits, and fresh fruit. He also got the Disney hockey movie "Miracle", a golfing statue figurine, and a frame. My Mom and Tom got him a Buffalo Bills sunglasses sportstrap. Happy Fathers Day!!! Even on Father's Day we couldn't keep Dan out of the kitchen. He loves to cook. Of course on Father's day Benjamin wore his "Handsome just like daddy" onsie to church.