Sunday our at home church service found us missing Kenedy again. She went to Nyssa to spend the weekend with Mikayla and her grandparents before she had her surgery on Tuesday.
tKenedy has been having issues with her feet again and the Bunions that have been getting worse. I talked to our insurance about it a couple months ago if they would cover this procedure and they said yes so we went ahead and paid a down payment and scheduled a date. A couple days before the surgery date we found out from our insurance they were actually not going to pay because according to them this was a pre-existing condition. Long story short after talking to many different people and much debate they will in fact pay for the surgery. We had to cancel the first date because of the mess but were able to reschedule for July 21st.
Because of covid I was not allowed to go in the surgery center with Kenedy. I was to drive up to the doors where the nurse would come out to take her temperature and the she would go inside and i was to go home and wait. On the way to the appt I asked Kenedy where her boot was and she said she didn't need it until her first post-op appointment. I asked her if she was sure because that didn't sound right to me and she said yes. I then realized she didn't have any medication and I asked her about that and she acted surprised that I didn't get her prescriptions. I did not go to the pre-op appointment because only one parent was allowed inside with her and Kefford went in because he had more questions. Apparently they were given paperwork that had the medications listed on it and a note saying the medications were called into war-mart. Maybe I should have been the one to go in after all.
When I pulled up with the Kenedy the nurse came out to take her temp and saw that it was over 101, not good. It was a hot day and so the nurse had Kenedy and I come in to wait a couple minutes for Kenedy to hopefully cool down, they took her temp again and it was normal. I was then kicked out but not before the nurse asked Kenedy where her boot was. Turns out they do need it since they fit it to her while she is still knocked out. Definitely I should have been the one to have gone to the pre-op.
After I left I picked up the medication from Wal-Mart and then went home for a bit and then when it was close to the time for her to be done I grabbed the boot and went to wait in m car at the surgery center. I dropped the boot off and then waiting an hour in my car. Oh boy it was a long wait. I had some videos downloaded on my phone from Disney+ so I was able to have something to do while I waited.
Kenedy sent our family chat a picture of her with her IV in before she had her phone taken off and was given the sleepy medicine. Ryker and Kefford both thought it funny to photoshop the pictures and send them back.
Kefford's picture is on the left and it is Kenedy with her high fever. Ryker's is on the right and nobody knows what was going through his head and what his means.
Kenedy's Dr was Dr Kinghorn and he did a great job, so far, we hope. Kenedy wanted a picture with him and managed to get one before her surgery. At her post-op appointment a couple of days later she was able to see her foot for the first time. A little scary. We are grateful for good Dr's and Nurses and hope that Kenedy's recovery will be quick and long lasting.
When I brought Kenedy home I set her up in my bed so she could watch TV, be in bed and not have to go up and down stairs. Avynlea and Rylee helped me get her to bed ad then after a picture we left her to sleep.
One problem with Kenedy's surgery being rescheduled was the date it was rescheduled to was the week of the Lutes family beach trip. I really wanted to go this year and Kefford and I discussed many different options on how I could go. He needed to stay home with Kenedy because she was having surgery and he was ok with being the one to stay home and take care of her after. He said that Ryker, Avynlea, Rylee and I could drive to California and do the camping at the beach without him and Kenedy. I was conflicted about that because I was nervous about driving all that way without Kefford and I felt huge amounts of guilt not being here with Kenedy the day of her surgery. The last time she had this procedure on her other foot I was teaching dancing for the Dance Connection and had 5 dance classes that day to teach and I couldn't get a sub. This ultimately led me to stop teaching for The Dance Connection and I didn't want to miss another surgery. I really wanted to go to California and I really didn't want to miss the Surgery. Ryker wasn't too keen on going because Ben, who just had surgery on his arm, wasn't going to be there and he didn't really have anyone he could hang out with. Kefford then suggested how about flying me, Avynlea and Rylee down. The price to fly was about the same as the price of gas to drive and we could be here for Kenedy's surgery and then leave early the next day. That gave me a lot of relief and we were all agreeable to that option. Avynlea and Rylee were especially excited for their first airplane ride that they would remember. They both flew as babies but don't have any recollection.
Wednesday morning we got up really early and Kefford drove us to the airport. Since we were going camping we had to pack some unusual travel items. In addition to one suitcase each we also packed, our tent, a cooler and three camping chairs wrapped in a garbage bag and tape. The rest of what we would normally take we didn't need or my family already had brought to the beach for us to use.
We had two flights with a layover in Oakland. Avynlea ate a nectarine for breakfast and during our first flight she had to use the barf bag and all of that nectarine came back up. She was really quiet and discreet about it and felt much better afterwards.
When we landed in Oakland I checked my email and saw that we had an email from Southwest letting us know that our connecting flight was cancelled and they put us on a different flight that is leaving two hours later. i was really bummed about that and just wanted to get to my family and the beach. I kept thinking of all that we were going to miss because of those two hours but it turned out to not be that big of a deal and I need to remember to stay out of my own head.
Heather picked us up from the airport, we flew into San Diego because it was closer to South Carlsbad and when we got there everyone was just hanging out and waiting for us. It was so good to see everyone and Jeremy and Ashleigh helped me and my girls put up our tent. The ones at the beach trip this year were... Mom and Heather, Jeremy Anita and Jaylynn, Me, Avynlea and Rylee, Emily and Isabelle and Ashleigh, Andrew Brown and Atticus. A smaller gathering then usual but we had so much fun. Me and my girls shared a site with Emily and Ashleigh and it was beach side which was really nice, it was also right across from the bathrooms which was very handy.
Once we got our tent up and our things put away we were able to head down to the beach with our family. It was more of an overcast cooler day but that didn't stop the ocean fun from happening. Avynlea and Rylee had fun swimming with Jaylynn and trying out the boogie boards.
I got to spend some time loving on Atticus which was a lot of fun. This boy loves his food so I was able to tempt him my way with some circus animal cookies.
There are a lot of rocks all along the beach and by the stairs to get up are some really big boulders to climb around. Mom is a little shaky on these rocks so we all tried to help her as much as we could. I was able to capture this sweet moment between her and Heather while Heather was assisting her through the rocky obstacle course.
It was fun being on the same site with Atticus he is such a cute little guy and he made our beach camping trip that much more fun.
I love my girls and am so glad that we got to go on this trip together. I miss the ones who are not here but was grateful for some time with Avynlea and Rylee. All of my kids are growing up way too fast.
I knew we were not going to have time to get some groceries that day because we were going to want to be at the beach with my family so the girls and I packed our lunches for the beach in our carry-on bags. Emily cooked a really yummy pasta dinner for all of us that night and so Ididn't have to go to the store until the next morning. Heather drove us along with Jeremy and we were able to get what we needed. Rylee and Avynlea took some car selfies on our way to the store.
Thursday we had more sunshine and the beach day was super fun because of it.
Isabelle left some food laying under her chair and I caught a squirrel helping himself to her goldfish crackers.
We all love Atticus so much and he helped make this trip so delightful.
Avynlea took my phone so she, Rylee and Jaylynn could get some selfies and pictures of the sunset.
Friday morning we took our traditional Lutes Beach trip family picture. It was a smaller picture this year but I am so glad that we could come and spend time with the ones who were here.
Emily, Isabelle, Rylee, Elizabeth, Avynlea, Heather, Mom, Atticus, Ashleigh, Andrew Brown, Jaylynn, Anita and Jeremy
Mom wanted a picture of her with the Grandkids who were there and she got a surprise when a beetle flew by and wanted to join the fun. He ended up in her hair and I took a quick picture before we got him out and shooed him on his way.
Much better, Grandma and a few of her Grandkids minus the beetle
Isabelle, Atticus, Avynlea, Grandma, Jaylynn and Rylee
We also took a siblings picture with Mom and then everyone took family pictures.
Heather and I took out traditional heart besties picture and then Atticus decided he needed to be a part of our picture. Yes please, we are happy to have Atticus with us all the time!
Friday was out last full day at the beach. The sun was out, the water was warmer and we all had fun on the sand and playing in the ocean.
Daily beach walks were a thing for us girls and on Friday I took a picture of all of us on our last beach walk for that trip.
We noticed that a few of us had bathing suits with black and white stripes so we had to get a picture of that.
One last sunset picture taking session. This time Atticus got to join in the fun.
My girls had fun taking these pictures of Atticus and then showing them to him. He sure got a kick out of seeing his funny faces and laughed and laughed with the girls.
We had fun playing games together each night and Andrew Brown took a picture of us playing Disney Codenames on Friday night. We had a lot of laughs and fun times playing together and I enjoyed those nightly games.
Saturday morning we packed up and headed out. Jeremy and his family left the night before and Emily and Isabelle left Saturday morning to head back to Utah. Between Mom and Heather, Andrew Brown and Ashleigh we were able to fit our stuff and our selves in to head back to Mom's. I was driving back with Ashleigh and Avynlea and Rylee were in Andrew Brown's car. I was so tired on that hour drive home but didn't want to fall asleep and leave Ashleigh to drive it alone so nibbled on some trail mix to help keep me awake through our conversations. When we got back I was starting to get a headache but I need to help unload, while I was doing that my headache turned into a migraine and after we finished unloading everything I had to go lie down for the rest of the afternoon until my migraine was gone. It was a bad one and I was lying on the bathroom floor during some of it because i really thought I was going to barf. Luckily by the evening I was feeling better and I could emerge form the dark bedroom and visit with everyone.
It was a crappy ending to a great week but I am glad I had that great week!
