Well let's see - so much has happened since my last post! No, I am not pregnant... (I'll just get that out of the way right now since that is the conclusion most people jump to) LOL.

The first thing that has happened is I have enrolled back in college. This is something that I have personally wanted to do for quite a while and it was just exacerbated when I turned "30" back in March. It is as if something clicked and I knew it was now or never. I had to finish and wanted to finish. After much discussion with my husband and research on schools, I have enrolled in Western Governor's University which is based in Salt Lake City, Utah.

They are not-for-profit which is very important to me (having worked in Financial Aid for a "for-profit" school in the past - no bueno), they are Regionally accredited (again, working for a Nationally accredited school and seeing the difference in how those types of degrees are perceived makes a difference), and they offer support and mentoring weekly or bi-weekly throughout the entire process. It's like having my own cheerleader and assistant all in one. My mentor calls each week and we talk and she asks how I am, and what my plans are for my studies for the week. Additionally, it is a competency based university. This means if I learn a topic sooner than the term end date, I can test out of it when I want to. If I take the pre-assessment at the beginning of a course and pass, and I know the material, I can schedule my final assessment right there and test out of the class. This will help me graduate much sooner than anticipated. I am already about to test out of my first class, Organizational Behavior and Leadership. I have been in it for three weeks but with my industry knowledge and consistent studying - I know the material. I have setup my own office in the guest room. I have my goals printed out in front of me on the wall and also a dry erase board with my goal dates and study schedule for my classes (those were added after the photo below).

I have the full support of not just my husband but my kids! Bradley loves that I am back in college and wants to help me in every way he can with the "difficult math" part (I really don't like algebra - at all). Jacob recognizes when I am in the office studying and only comes to get me if he really needs something (for the most part - sometimes he just needs a hug, which is fine with me)! It has been great so far and I am enjoying being back in school and working towards my degree.

The second thing that has happened is that I finally, reluctantly had to get all my wisdom teeth extracted on May 17th. It was expected but unexpected at the same time. I am in my fourth day of recovery and so far it hasn't been too horribly bad. Is there pain? Yes. I am not going to lie and say it is all rainbows and unicorns! For years (yes, years) I realized now in hindsight that I had been in constant pain every day with headaches that I just attributed to life and stress. With the two wisdom teeth now gone (I only had two that ever developed on my upper jaw, my lower ones never developed - yay) I realized that the pain may have been caused by them and the below cartoon illustrates perfectly why:

That's my wisdom teeth on both sides. They came in fine but they wanted to push into the second molars I had on BOTH sides. This was causing pain not so much in the tooth at first but in my upper jaw which I thought was - my head. I can't express the pressure that was removed from my sinus/ear/head area when the teeth were removed. It was strange but I guess I never thought that my wisdom teeth could have been causing so many issues when I had thought they grew in fine. 

The reason they had to be extracted all of a sudden was because my left upper wisdom did begin hurting last week - a lot. I made a dentist appointment for today actually, but by Saturday I woke up with a throbbing pain in my tooth and a severe headache. The pain was so bad all my anxiety and fear of the dentist went out the window! Hans had taken the kids to McDonald's for breakfast and I called him and told him I was taking his car and going to a dentist I had found in Altamonte Springs, FL to check me out and if necessary pull the tooth. I had called several Lake Mary dentists and none had any availability at that moment. I then called Dr. David Hazan, DMD and his secretary said he could see me right then. So, in the car I went for the 25 minute drive. When I got there, I was checked in and Dr. Hazan took a set of X-Rays which confirmed that I had a nice size chip in my top left wisdom tooth that had happened and that is what was causing the issue. On top of that, both wisdom teeth had to be pulled because of the above "illustration": Where I thought they came in fine, they only partially came in and part was still pushing against my other molars and (he said) was a great deal of the cause of my daily pain. Without hesitation, I called Hans and told him I was getting those teeth pulled. He was so worried and wanted to see if I needed him there but I was composed and told him I would be okay. 

(Don't worry this did not happen, LOL)

I laid back in the dentist chair and the honest to God worst part was the shot of Novocain. That needle hurt so bad and he jammed it right up against my jaw bone on both sides. After that kicked in I was okay other than well, the fear. I was composed until he announced it was time to remove them. I felt a lot of pressure but zero pain. Before I knew it he had the right one out. Then he went onto the left and again, a lot of pressure and before I knew it he was done. The whole process from Novocain to the second extraction took maybe 10 minutes. He then put a bunch of gauze on the areas and gave me some prescriptions for pain and antibiotics and sent me home. I rested a lot on Saturday and Sunday, and was back at work yesterday (and in a little pain). Today I woke up with a headache and facial/jaw pain but nothing that two Advil couldn't cure. I am still having to eat soft foods and soup which is the most annoying part! Other than that - I am so happy they're gone.

What else has happened? Oh! Bradley had Strabismus Eye Surgery on April 24th. The surgery took just under an hour and corrected an "eye crossing" problem with his left eye that he has had since he was 5. He always wore glasses since then and they had been working, but with his age and hormones and growing up so fast his eye muscles couldn't keep up anymore. Thus, the glasses stopped working and surgery was the only real option. The surgery was a huge success and the eyeglass prescription he has now is almost nonexistent. In fact, he can see almost perfect without glasses and when he has them off, his eye no longer turns at all. Praise the Lord. 

(Brad on his way to his 8th Grade Dance)

Also, speaking of my oldest - Bradley turned 14 on May 3rd! He has become such an amazing young man and is so smart. Recently at school he received the Silver Medal award for holding a consistent 3.50-3.74 GPA in his Pre-IB and Gifted program classes for his entire 8th grade year. We are so incredibly proud of him, how he is growing up, and all that he continues to accomplish. He loves his family, he cherishes his friends, and loves the Lord and our church we have been attending. He has a servant's heart and I know he will do great things in his life. I just have that "mommy instinct". It is also so hard to believe that he is starting high school in the Fall. Time flies...!

(Brad walking away after receiving his award)

That is all the updates I have for now. I will be posting more later! 

-Kim

It's That Time of Year Again...

...are you ready? It's back to school time!

Wow - the Summer has come and gone. It feels like just yesterday Bradley just got out of school and finished fourth grade. But lo and behold, Bradley starts school *gulp* tomorrow! He was supposed to start on Monday - but an amazingly wonderful thing occurred. Let me explain...

In second grade, Bradley began school at Sikes Elementary - which is a wonderful school and I have no issues with. I found out soon after he started there that our area also has a charter school, South McKeel Elementary Academy. You have to apply and the wait list is extensive. So extensive that in fact when I applied for him to go, they let me know not to count on him getting picked until middle school. Wow!

Fast forward to 2 1/2 weeks ago. All Sikes school supplies and uniforms have been purchased, just waiting for school to start. I am sitting at home about to make dinner, and my phone rings. The Caller ID says "South McKeel". Never in my mind did I think it was about the wait-list. Well, it was - they said they had an opening come available in fifth grade, and did I want him to go to the school. this. year. I hesitated for a moment just because it was such a huge decision and not a lot of time to make it. I put the secretary on hold, talked to Hans for all of 30 seconds, and accepted.

Now, after donating the school supplies we purchased for Sikes and buying all new supplies and uniforms (that were only available at a uniform distributor in Clearwater) - Bradley is now a South McKeel Wildcat!

He is so excited, and I am for him as well. We went to orientation yesterday and his teacher seems like a great lady. The school facilities are immaculate, and the orientation was very organized and not at all chaotic. When we arrived we picked up a manila folder by the office that had his name & teacher on it. From there we went to the cafeteria as instructed, and then purchased him an agenda, deposited some $ into his lunch account, bought him a "spirit" shirt that he can wear on Fridays...  Oh, and I joined the PTA. :)

We also found which bus he is going to be riding. Ah yes, my little boy is going to be taking a bus to school for the first time ever! 

The school runs from K-12, meaning he will graduate from here. Also, since he got in, Jake automatically gets in when he starts Kindergarten. No wait!

Well, that's my little blurb about the craziness that has been occurring in the Reller household lately. Get ready for a good year!

Bradley's Piano Recital

Every year in April, Bradley's piano teacher (who also happens to be the pastor's wife at our church) holds her annual recital to showcase the student's progress.

Last year, Bradley played "Moonlight Sonata" by Bethoven. This year, Bradley decided he wanted to try and tackle "Canon in D" by Pachalbel. He did really well - surprisingly well even! He had not been able to practice a great deal since the infamous surgery at the beginning of the month, and the last week that he had been practicing, he struggled a little when the tempo picked up. However - for the recital - he nailed it! I am so proud of him. :)




ENJOY!!!

-The Rellers

My Brad-Monkey and the Case of the Uncooperative Right Kidney!

...Well really, it isn't so much "the right kidney" as it is the valve that connects the ureter from the bladder to the kidney.

Let me explain.

My oldest, my awesome, smart, wicked cool Brad-Monkey began having some pain when urinating last November. I figured he may have a urinary tract infection (since I have had one of those stinkin' little devils before), so I took him to the pediatrician who confirmed it. No big deal, was sent home with antibiotics and we were good to go for about two weeks or so.

Then, the UTI came back! Poor baby.

Back to the doctor we went, and this time more antibiotics ensued, but before we left, he set us up with an ultrasound at Lakeland Regional Medical Center as a precaution to make sure all plumbing works correctly, and that there is nothing wrong causing the UTI's and that this is all a fluke. OK no problem! End of November, ultrasound was done. UTI was gone and had stayed gone, so I thought this was all just a "waste of time". My boy was fiiiiineeee. Fine-O-fine.

Ultrasound results came back to his pediatrician - he has a duplicate collection chamber in his right kidney. Say what? I asked the pediatrician what this meant, he said usually nothing at all, just a medical fluke, only meant that he has two collection chambers for fluid in his kidney instead of one. We will go ahead and use this little guy as our guide for the next set of "explanations":

So, his pediatrician wanted us to follow up with a pediatric urologist - to be on the safe & clear side. Okay! So, next appointment set... We are now at February 2nd, 2010, because that is the soonest that I could get with this particular doctor that he referred us to. We saw him after he himself arrived an hour late to the appointment and he agreed that Brad did have a duplicate chamber, but he wanted to make sure that when the urine collects in his bladder and he urinates, that the fluid does not shoot back into - or "reflux" - into the kidney, causing infection. He then ordered what is called a "VCU" test. This was done on February 19th at St. Joseph's Hospital - and lets just say Brad was not happy. At. All. Catheter + 9 year old boy = not a fun experience. The test involved placing a catheter in, filling his bladder with "blue dye" and then taking many x-rays to see what the fluid did & went. Took all of a half hour, then a stop to Dairy Queen for my big guy and we were on our way home. Results would not be known until our next appointment with the urologist, which was yesterday...

*sigh*

The whole time I told myself "Brad is fineeee", he wasn't. As it turns out, the fluid does come back into his kidney and collects, due to a non-functioning valve in the right kidney's ureter that connects to his bladder. This is what has been causing the multiple UTI's. What threw me (and Bradley) back was when the doctor said that "Not to worry, we'll just do surgery and it will be corrected". What? Surgery? I had no idea that this was at that level of seriousness. Speaking of levels... the type severity of the reflux is scored in levels, or grades, measuring from Grade I (not serious, barely any reflux at all) to Grade 5 (major, severe reflux, ER type situation). Brad's severity measured between a 3 and 4. So, this is why he has to have surgery.

Talk about a wake-up "stop the presses, what just happened here" call.

To top it all off, the doctor said the "S" word (surgery) in front of my Brad-Monkey. My first born. He immediately began freaking out, crying, thinking he was going to die (he wasn't). The doctor was great with him when he saw his anxiety and answered all his questions ("Am I going to feel anything? Are you going to cut me open? How much? Where? Will I have a scar?What tools are you going to use?" Yes, he asked what tools the doctor was going to use. He's too smart for his own good.) When he was done with the questions, he just wanted to know where/when/how long, and wanted to talk to other people who have had surgery to find out how it works and what happens because honestly, Hans & I have never been "put under" for any type of procedure.

When I got through talking to the doctor today, asking the questions I didn't want to ask in front of Brad & scare him, this site basically sums up all that I learned about the procedure he is going to have done. http://www.ucsfchildrenshospital.org/education/ureteral_reimplant_surgery/index.html

And so it begins... yesterday and today I researched the different hospitals that we could have the surgery done at, and we settled on having the procedure done at All Children's Hospital in St. Petersburg, FL. The new facility just opened January 9, so everything is brand-spankin' new. Each room has a 42" LCD TV, games/Disney Channel/Nickelodeon, phone, sleep area for the parents, and filtered internet on the TV for Brad. Plus, a 2nd floor rooftop play area & ICEE machines (yep, only the best, haha), video games, and a breakfast cart that comes around each morning that they can take whatever they want from, and however much that they want - donuts, eggs, bacon, toast, etc...! Here are some photos I found online:

  

The surgery is scheduled for Monday, April 5, 2010, time still unknown - they will call me the Friday before to let us know what time to be there. He will be in the hospital at least until Wednesday, maybe Thursday. Afterward, he will be out of school until the following Wednesday or Thursday. I have already applied for FMLA at work, and Hans has four weeks vacation saved (wow!), so he is taking off two weeks. 

I will definitely be keeping everyone posted, and ask that all of you add us to your prayers. We can use them! This is going to be a rough few weeks.

Thanks!

The Reller Family