Jess & Zach

Howdy All-

We are having a baby!!!  Baby Smith is scheduled to make a grand entrance on New Year’s Eve!  Here is a picture from our 13 week appointment.  More details to come!

The highlight for February has been planning a surprise 60th birthday party for my mom.  Wow was she surprised!  We had a blast. Friends from out of town and years ago came to celebrate too!  It was great to see all of the people that love her! Check out the gallery for the pictures.  If you have pictures please email them to me!

No other real news… just staying busy and working hard.

What are you thankful for? I am thankful for birthdays

Happy 2009!  Thanks to the Gilmore’s for hosting a fab New Year’s eve party.  Who new you could make BBQ sauce from grape jelly and mustard!

Work has been very busy for both of us. We are thankful amidst the craziness!

We spent a week in Copper Mountain, Colorado.  It was beautiful. I could not go skiing since I had my surgery in October, but had a blast exploring the villages, shops and snow shoeing!  Soooooo much fun. I want to become a snow shoe racer… well, maybe not, but I enjoyed it more than skiing and it was much easier.

The theme for this year so far has been organizing.  We redid the office so I have a scrapbook table and mini-studio. I love it! Thanks babe! My early birthday present was a photo printer. ILY Hubby!

I still haven’t sent out Christmas Cards… but don’t worry, they are coming

What are you thankful for? I am thankful for preserving memories.

It’s been a while… December was BUSY!  Zach ran his 2nd marathon and did well (even though he wishes his time was faster) It was 80 degrees with crazy crazy winds. I am proud of you babe!

Work has been busy for both of us… new projects and a busy time of year!I am feeling much better and have been released to start slowly exercising so that is a plus.

Zach and I went on a double date with Erik and Katey to the Nutcracker at the Bass Hall in Fort Worth. It was awesome! I had never seen it and really enjoyed it. They even had real snow falling into the audience!

Christmas was great. We traveled to Houston with Zach’s mom to see his sister, then dad and uncle and cousins. We had an enjoyable time dispite all of the driving!  Zach and I went to midnight Mass at St. Ann’s near downtown. It was a gorgeous church and then we went to House of Pie for Boston Cream Pie afterwards

We drove back to Fort Worth on the evening of the 25th, unpacked, packed then hopped on a plane early the next morning to go to Midland. It was great to see my grandparents, aunt and cousins (and cute Aubree and Slade!) Lots of food, family traditions and good times.

Last night we had dinner (delicious as always- thanks mom!) with my parents and celebrated Christmas. This year was a bit crazy trying to get everyone in the same place and the same time so we had several Christmas celebrations. Thanks to everyone for the thoughtful gifts and fun times.

Today has been a pretty relaxing day, a little cleaning and planning for the new year! I have a BBQ pulled pork in the crockpot- I am pretty excited! Our goal is to cook more at home. Thanks for the awesome “Domestic Diva” apron Babe! It is so hillariously perfect.

Oh, and if you are wondering, no we haven’t sent out Christmas cards yet. They were going to be Happy New Year cards, but now maybe Happy Valentine’s I am working on it! haha, time flies.

What are you thankful for? I am thankful for a another year of blessings. Happy New Year.

Howdy All-

Zach needs your help on Sunday!!!!!!!!!!!  You don’t have to run… just yell and cheer

Who: My fabulous hubby
What: Dallas White Rock Marathon
Where: Dallas, TX - starting & finishing at Victory Park near the American Airlines Center- http://runtherock.com/
When: Sunday, December 14
Time: 8 am start… Zach should finish between 4 and 4.5 hours (wow, that’s a lot of running)
Why: Because you are awesome friends and fam and it would mean a lot of you could come to cheer!

Track Zach’s Run: http://www.doitsports.com/results/MSG-signup.tcl?sub_event_id=213771
His bib number is 2205.

Website: http://runtherock.com/

Come for a bit if you can… pick a spot on the course and you can even get text messages to track his progress (see above) Call if you want to meet up with me.
The best spot would be somewhere out on the course since the start and finish are ultra crowded. White Rock Lake is pretty and is on the back half of the race.

See you soon!  Remember… you can always go back to bed, come cheer for a bit if you can!

Thanks! -Jess

Hmmm… that’s what my doctor said today. I knew I was unique, but seriously?

My allergic reaction is getting better, but I still have spots and irritation around my incisions. I had a patch on my back to test for possible irritants including the glue they used during the surgery, my soap, anti-itch cream ingredients, etc.  Everything came back negative, meaning that I am not allergic to them. But something caused my allergic reaction so I think it is a combination of something- probably the glue and my soap or detergant or the air, haha. Who knows… I am much better and just hope it doesn’t come back!

It was a busy week at work, lots happening as the end of the term draws near. I am very lucky to have a great team! This weekend we are going to relax and do some decorating for Christmas and hang out with some friends and look at lights.

What are you thankful for? I am thankful for Advent and preparing for the birth of Christ.

Quick blurb before bed… I stayed up too late again! I am feeling soooooooooo much better and excited to be getting back normal. I go back to the dermatologist in the morning to find out how my allergic reaction is healing. No more itch and the redness around my incisions is almost gone. We had a great long weekend. It was wonderful to be with family! Zach smoked baby back ribs again- AMAZING. I have a lot of pictures to upload soon… I also have a TON of scrapbooking to do! I wish that could be my job I love my real job, but how amazing would that be? We painted our entry way- it is a delicious toffee crunch color. Just a few touch ups and we are done then on to the next adventure of putting up the Christmas tree. Zach decorated the outside of the house on Sunday while I supervised What are you thankful for? I am thankful for having a house to decorate and for getting 2 fabulous Angel Tree kids.

Happy Thanksgiving!  Hope everyone enjoyed time with family and friends.

This year we gathered at my parents house… me, Zach, Zach’s mom- Pattie, Zach’s sister- Jenn, my brother-Jeff, and my parents.  9 total for a great meal and time relaxing.

One of our traditions is to pass around index cards before dinner and each person writes something they are thankful for… then we pass the basket around at dinner and you draw a card and read it out loud.

What are you thankful for?

- Jess getting better and all being together

- I am thankful for the many things God has done for me- love, health and family

- For the memores and also the ones to come

- I am thankful that everyone has had a chance to spend time together and enjoy very wonderful food. And I’m very thankful to not be at work. How bout you?

- Health, new recipes, old traditions, family, friends and faith and less itch and a better liver

- Rufus T. Pupperson

- Family, friends and Jessica’s getting healthy again

- Another year of health, all of my family, for a job

Now we are having RibFest at our house!  Lots more food and fun!

Well yesterday I went back to my liver surgeon because the area around my incisions has been irritated, red and itchy.  He said oh wow, I haven’t seen anything this bad before and immediately scheduled an appointment for me to see a dermatologist.

Good news: the incisions are NOT infected and it is “just” a severe allergic reaction- possibly to the glue that was used to seal the incisions. His goal is to get me better and then determine what I am allergic to.

While I was at my appointment Dr. Aftergut (that’s his real name) brought in 4 other doctors and then took pictures of my RED, not so happy belly and back.  Apparently the reaction was so bad that it spread way beyond the incisions. Awesome.  I have ointment and oral steroids that will hopefully start to calm the itching and spreading. Disgusting, huh?

Random side note- the medicine increases my appetite… just in time for thanksgiving. haha. Talk about timing. Everything happens for a reason right? hmmm..

What are you thankful for?  I am thankful for a team of doctors looking out for me and time with family, friends and food.

It’s been a good weekend… I spent a lot of time resting and relaxing (I go back to work tomorrow and need to save my energy!)

Saturday we had a friends over to watch OU destroy Tech. Zach smoked baby back ribs and we had a rock band concert. My contribution was a batch of sweet potato fries and cookies- made at home, not necessarily homemade

Oven Baked Sweet Potato Fries
serves 4-6

1 - 1 1/2 lb sweet potatoes
1/4 cup olive oil
1/2 tsp kosher salt
1/2 tsp paprika
1/2 tsp cinnamon

Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil (preferably the easy release kind).

Peal the sweet potatoes. Cut into strips that are about 1/2 inch wide on each side.

Place the sweet potatoes into a sealable plastic bag. Add oil, salt, paprika and cinnamon. Seal the bag and shake well to thoroughly coat the fries. Spread the potatoes out onto the baking sheet in a single layer.

Cook for 30 minutes, turning every 10 minutes. Transfer immediately to a paper towel lined plate and serve warm.

http://sarahscucinabella.com/

I think I’m going to start cooking… it will be an adventure. Might as well start now! This website has a lot of good recipes to start with!

What are you thankful for?  I am thankful for friends coming to visit even though they say we live so far away that it is almost New Mexico :)  Have a great Thanksgiving week!

I’m much improved, but still incredibly itchy! I’ve talked to the doctor and this is normal and now I have some cream to put around the incisions, but it still drives me crazy!

This week I have felt busy… I guess because I have had more activity than I have had probably in the previous 2 months combined. I’ve gotten to spend a lot of time with my parents- thanks for hanging out with me! Hubby it’s been great to get kind of back to normal and I’m glad we can have a few dinner dates now

I’m continuing to get stronger and stronger but am still pretty sleepy in the morning. The itching probably isn’t helping, because I wake up in the middle of the night and don’t sleep very well.  Heal faster!

We are going to sleep early tonight… by 8pm. Oh my. I’m so excited. Zach has to get up at 4:30am to run 22 miles and I’m just tired.

What are you thankful for? I am thank for for family.

Today started at 4:30am… I woke up sooooooooo ITCHY!  My incisions are healing, but driving me crazy. I finally went back to sleep 2 hours later for a bit.  I’m glad to be healing, but oh my!

Daddy, thanks for taking me to lunch!  I am much faster than last Tuesday, huh? We hung out for the afternoon and then I rested.
BIG NEWS! I drove for the first time in almost a month.  I didn’t forget! I made a quick trip to Hobby Lobby (it’s only 1 mile away) and got a few scrapbooking things and gifts.  Almost everything is on sale! It was a great first driving trip!

Zach and I will be relaxing for the evening… I see hot chocolate in the future!

What are you thankful for? I am thankful for making a scrapbook page about the night that Zach proposed I love you babe!

It’s been a good weekend…

Friday started with an outing to The Antique Tea Room in Lewisville with my mom. Quite yummy and cute, their chairs were very straight, so slightly uncomfortable for me to sit during lunch. Funny how normal things can become a bother.  Then I got my haircut- a little shorter and spunkier. Thanks for spending the afternoon with me Mom!

Friday night Zach and I went to our favorite Italian restaurant, Pisa’s Pasta & Pizza.  This was our first date out in the real world since my surgery. It was nice to get out and about with my hubby! Then early to bed and late to rise. It was great to sleep in (Zach ran 12 miles in the blustery cold, brrrr)

Saturday Zach played Top Golf with the guys and I watched the Sex in the City movie- it was actually really good. The theme was love, particularly loving yourself before you can completely love someone else. I laughed and cried and then laughed again. It was a great girly way to spend the afternoon.

Then I hung out with our neighbors Claire, Seth & Greg and made snickerdoodle cookies. Soooooo good!  The dough rose a lot, so you had to use your imagination to see the cookie cutter shapes, but they were delicious and it was really fun. They were so gracious to invite us for pizza and Zach arrived just in time.

Sunday was Rib Fest!  Zach spend the day preparing baby back and pork loin back ribs.  He mixed rib dry rub marinade using my grandpa’s recipe and his own special concoction. They smoked for 4 hours to perfection. The meat fell of the bone.  Great job babe!  Claire, Greg and Seth came over to enjoy!  They guys played PlayStation 3 while Claire and I scrapbooked a bit.

I am feeling much stronger and as long as I take it slow I do very well. This week I will be resting, taking a few short driving trips around the neighborhood (I hope I didn’t forget to drive over the last month!) and hopefully scrapbooking a bit!  I plan to go back to work next Monday the 24th. I miss everyone!

What are you thankful for?  I am thankful for secret recipes and great friends.

Today I was lazy most of the morning and then I took a walk around the neighborhood (well, our street anyway) I am feeling stronger.

Tonight Zach and I stopped by to see Greg, Claire and Seth and they invited us in for tacos!  It was great to visit, eat good food and do normal things

Then Zach and I hung out and watched The Office. Very funny. It hurts to laugh deeply… maybe I shouldn’t have watched it! But it was worth it.

I am feeling a lot better. I’m still sore and get tired, but definitely making progress!

What are you thankful for? I am thankful for great neighbors and my fabulous hubby!

I was so excited to sleep for 12 hours!  I have been having trouble sleeping, so this was excellent. I rested all morning, ate some lasagna and the went out for an adventure.

My mom treated me to a manicure and pedicure. It was so fun!  This was a perfect outing because I didn’t have to move very much and could relax.  I had to turn off the massage chair because it was vibrating my insides too much. I’ll have to go back when I am fully healed to get a back massage.

Tonight Zach and I had a fabulous brisket dinner that was prepared as a fundraiser for our church. It was excellent. I think I can 100% eat all the normal and delicious foods. I am so glad to be done with my old routine of chicken soup and bland food.

Things are going well. I am feeling much more like more normal self. Last week I would randomly cry or get frustrated… apparently very common after a major surgery. Now I’m feeling peppy and much better!

Plan for tomorrow- sleep in, relax and maybe scrapbook a little bit.

What are you thankful for? I am thankful for progress and encouraging friends and fam

Today started out sloooooooooow. I woke up at 2am and was WIDE AWAKE until 5am. Who knows. Then I couldn’t get moving until about noon and was pretty uncomfortable. I was awake and out of bed, but sluggish. My dad came over to hang out with me and took me to lunch.  This was a BIG accomplishment because it was my first outing since my surgery other than my doctor’s appointment. We went to Cavalleros Cantina in Keller. I had a fajita chicken taco with lettuce, tomato and cheese. It sounds silly, but I was really proud that I did well going out and about. I was moving really slow, but did it! Thanks for lunch Daddy!

This afternoon I filled out some paperwork for benefits, took a nap and talked to Sumer, Danielle and Dave from work. I miss everyone!

This evening Zach took me to Target to get my prescription filled. Another big accomplishment.  My walking is getting better expect that I look like an old lady meandering along!

What are you thankful for?  I have sooo many things. Happy Veteran’s Day.

My appointment with Dr. Jeyarajah went well. Surgical Associates at Methodist Hospital in Dallas have been wonderful. Dr. J said that I am making good progress. My incisions are healing well. I am still pretty sore and working on breathing deeper. He said this is normal because they inflated my abdomen during the surgery. Everything is settling back- very strange feeling. My next goal is to build up to walking 30 minutes straight every day. Right now I am doing about 10 minutes slow a few times a day. I better get out my running shoes!  I am still trying to work on standing up straight and not “leading with my head like a turtle.”

Tonight we had the most amazing dinner! Lasagna and acorn squash (well no squash for Zach- too exotic, haha)  Thanks for the lasagna mom! And a few strawberries for dessert I am so glad to be eating better. I missed good food!

I go back to see Dr. J in 1 month. My plan until then is to rest, but increase my exercise and get stronger. He said to remember that I did have major surgery and it is important to heal completely and take it easy.

My cousin Kris and his wife Marissa had their second baby tonight!  Welcome to the world Slade Andrew! 9 pounds 5 ounces and 20 inches. I can’t wait to meet you and see Aubree again! Congrats!

It’s been a good day.

Howdy-

I have my check up today at 2:30pm in Dallas. Hubby thanks for getting off early to take me! ILY! I’m feeling much better than last week, but have been uncomfortable and tired. I have to keep reminding myself that I did just have major surgery. I wish I had a fast forward button!

I’ll write again this evening with an update of my appointment. Thanks for checking on me!

Today was a great day. I felt a lot stronger. I took a short nap in the afternoon to recharge. Mom, thanks for the delicious pork chops, baked sweet potato and AMAZING salad with strawberries and avocado!  Fabulous! Today we watched the Aggies run out of time and organized the clothes in my closet. Productive day. Might as well do some things at home since I can’t really go out and about yet. Thanks for your help mom! It was probably a funny sight to see me sitting in my chair sorting clothes in the middle of the closet.

Off to bed. Tomorrow should be nice to spend some time relaxing on the porch. I can’t wait to see you in the morning babe! Glad you got to hang out with everyone in College Station… we won’t mention the game.