What's up?

Well we have been busy lately to say the least. April 15,16,and 17th we traveled to Rochester to the Minnesota Homeschool convention. While there we thought we would stop in the Mayo for a friendly second opinion on Shawn's upcoming surgery. We were hoping they would say, "surgery" are you crazy" you are completely healed!!! Unfortunately those blasted doctors agreed with one another. So on Monday April 20th, Shawn went in for abdominal surgery. Not something you want to try at home. You know that ball under the cup game where they move the cups around really fast and move the ball... well that's what they did with Shawns insides. They did a little removal, move a few organs around, and reattached other parts..... Ouch! Shawn was in the hospital until Friday April 23rd. She is home now but still feeling pretty tough. You know Shawn though not much for complaining... We have been blessed with Alicia and Marissa Cutlter for the last week and a half! Wow - they rock - such blessings -feeding the babies, cooking incredible food, and such cheerful hearts - I'm also awful proud of my boys too helping out -. We are thankful for the help cuz Shawn can't lift more that 10 -15lbs for 6 weeks, then we get to see if the internal reorganizing helped. Please pray that it heals properly! Well so then on my birthday April 24th. It started out as a glorious day, Shawn was home, and in the morning Alicia and Marissa made delicious omlets and chocolate pancakes, then the 5 older boys and I went fishing, but when I got home, it looked like we were going to take Claire to ER. Yes her right side was hurting really bad. Well after a long while in ER and "wrestling" with Dr. Indecision, Claire had to have an apendecomy! So Shawn stayed overnight in the hospital with her and thankfully the surgery went well and they came home Sunday afternoon. Claire was a trooper. Thankfully the appendix didn't rupture! Well that was our week, so if we didn't return your message, or we seemed preoccupied - now you know the rest of the story! Keep praying for my Shawny when you get a free moment, she is getting better but of course she is chopping at getting better quickly! Wish I had some pictures, more to come later... Paul