Finally… a Date

Hello Lovely Friends! 

I just thought I would update on here that I finally have a date for my surgery.  They are going to do it on April 20th.

This surgery is to get rid of all the endometriosis that has spread through the womb, tubes, and bowels.  When I talked to the Dr. he said that they would try to go in as a lap (like they did before with 2 small incisions), but if the endo was too bad they would have to do “open surgery” and it would be as if I was having a C-Section.  I sure dont miss the irony in the fact that it will be like having a C-Section – I get the scar, just not the baby.

I am very nervous about it.  I will probably be in the hospital for a night at least.  I dread the hospital I am staying at.  It is dirty and dark and just pray that I will be safe (oh yeah, and that one of the very, VERY common “superbugs” that ALWAYS invade English hospitals skip this one on that day).

The other day we called Chris’ mom to see if she could take me to the hospital.  She said, she didn't know and that she would let me know later…  WHAT!??!?!  While I understand that she works, I also understand that she works right by the hospital at the same time I am supposed to be there.  What I don't understand is how she could even hesitate to take me when I am so far from home and it is such a major surgery (maybe I should remind her she might get another grandbaby out of this and if she is lucky one who is a boy so she’ll like it).  So Chris asked her the next day again and she said, yes she would take me as long as we went when SHE wanted to go.  I am trying to decide if it would be less hassle to just take the train.  I don't even dare ask her to bring me home – that might push her over the edge. 

The other day we were at her house and she was watching two of the grandkids (her choice by the way) and she walked past me and said, “KIDS who’d have them!!!” and walked away.  Things like that sting, and we only get it from family.  I had a sister in law who told me that, “J & P only spend time with you and are nice to you because they feel sorry for you.”  Who needs enemies!

And then, to top it all off, we found out Chris cant get any of the days that week off work.  They denied them all.  So I may just be having surgery by myself.  Getting the train there, having the surgery, and then the next day, getting the train back home.

Infertility is such a heartbreaking issue.  I read a sign on the wall of the doctors that said, “The only thing more painful then having a baby, is not having one.”  Chris is a huge support and so are my friends and family.  We skipped Mothers Day here in England and went away for the weekend – but just running away from it doesn't stop the pain. 

Hopefully this surgery will correct a lot of the issues that I have, and hopefully they wont have to remove any ovaries (they might if I start to bleed too much).

Any happy thoughts and prayers would go a very long way.

Hopefully I will update on here before I go in – and after reading this through, hopefully you can make sense out of the muddle!

Tender Mercies

I wont lie… this week has been rough.  After living here in England for nearly 4 years you’d think that I would have my homesickness conquered – but I don't… far from it.  When things are going “well” it is a lot easier to cope, but when things pile up (like they have this last week) it is almost more than I can handle at times.
Today, after an especially hard day, I decided that I needed to get out of the house.  I needed to exercise (instead of emotionally eat).  I went out with two objectives – find the signs of spring by doing something that I love (taking pictures) and also taking some deep breaths, “feeling”, and trying to find ways to improve my mood and my outlook on things. I guess that is more than two… anyway…
The second I walked out the door it started to rain (surprise, surprise – note sarcasm), but I had finally found the motivation and keep walking.  Breathing in the nice, fresh air and taking a lot of time to just… STOP and take in the view.
I am a very firm believer in God’s “Tender Mercies”.  I try my hardest when I am feeling down to find them in every day life. I find that it just re-affirms my belief in God looking out for me even though life is so hard sometimes.  Today didn't fail to disappoint (when looking for tender mercies – it never will).  I found a lot of signs of spring and even found beauty in the day.

“We should not underestimate or overlook the power of the Lord's tender mercies. The simpleness, the sweetness, and the constancy of the tender mercies of the Lord will do much to fortify and protect us in the troubled times in which we do now and will yet live. When words cannot provide the solace we need or express the joy we feel, when it is simply futile to attempt to explain that which is unexplainable, when logic and reason cannot yield adequate understanding about the injustices and inequities of life, when mortal experience and evaluation are insufficient to produce a desired outcome, and when it seems that perhaps we are so totally alone, truly we are blessed by the tender mercies of the Lord and made mighty even unto the power of deliverance”  Elder David A. Bednar "The Tender Mercies of the Lord."

Below are some of the pictures I took… maybe, you can find a “Tender Mercy” for yourself in one of them.  Enjoy!

“Pretty in Pink”                

One of my “Tender Mercies”    

Another “Tender Mercy”   

What A Shame

Here in England we are surrounded by history. Some of the houses, buildings, and streets that I see on a daily basis have been in existence before America was a country. It isn't uncommon to find ancient artefacts from the Saxon era around this area. Just last week they unearthed some artefacts from that era in a playground in Wisbech. It never ceases to amaze me.
Bill Bryson (a very funny writer – GO READ ONE OF HIS BOOKS!) said, in his book Notes From a Small Country, something like, “England has too much history for its own good.” (That isn't the EXACT quote – but the idea of it). I agree. Over here people will think nothing of putting some graffiti on a 400 year old house, kicking over headstones from the black plague, and….

(taken from the bbc.co.uk website)
What a shame. It is just a few minutes down the road from the main town here, and the fire is being treated as suspicious. Although, it is one of the churches in the area I HAVENT visited, Chris and I would always drive by and say, “We should go visit that church” – and now we cant. St. Mary’s Church was built in 1874 – and all that history gone. Not only is it sad for the many people displaced by the fire, but it is sad for everyone living nearby.
Here are some more pictures:
BBC's pictures of the Fire
And if you wanted to know more about this lovely, historic little town I live in:
March, CAMBS
And… If you wanted to read more about the church:
St. Mary's Church
Such a shame.

Great Yarmouth

No, your eyes are not deceiving you.  This is a new blog entry.  Don't be too shocked – take a deep breath, and lets begin.
So much (and yet, nothing) has happened since I last updated, so I will be starting from recently (to avoid becoming too overwhelmed).
This last weekend Chris and I decided to avoid Mothers Day at all costs – and spend a weekend in Great Yarmouth for his birthday (on the same day as Mothers Day). 
It turned out to be quite rainy, cold, and a bit boring.  It wasn't good weather at all (except about 30 minutes on Saturday). 
The B&B left little to be desired and when the TV broke in our first room, we got moved to another smaller room.  The toilet and shower were in a space that was no bigger than an American closet.  We were supposed to stay for 3 nights but yesterday we could hear out own bed calling us from 90 miles away and we packed up a day early and came home. 
It was nice to get away, and I am always keen to see new parts of the country.  It was nice to focus on Chris’ birthday and just spend some time together away from “real life”.
But, oh was it nice to be home…
Here are some pictures from the weekend – if you want to see the whole set (including videos) make sure you visit theflattleys.co.uk.  Chris does a great job updating the site with all the pictures and videos we take over here.
Anyway, enjoy!

The view of the windfarm from the beach that would could walk to.  If you look closely, you can see that some of the turbines are covered with the clouds.

The view looking toward the pier.

Looking towards the North Sea, with a typical English sky.

Looking off the pier.  I have always said the clouds in England look different than they do in Utah, and here you can see why – they are very low.

The old pier (I think) and the dirty North Sea waves.

The view of the town from the top of the multi-story car park. The death trap (a.k.a. stairs).  We were on the top floor of the B&B and the stairs were soooo steep.  I clung onto the rails for dear life every time I walked up or down those stairs (and if you know my luck with stairs – you’ll understand why).