Happy Anniversary!

Today is my sister Danielle and her husband Doug's first wedding anniversary! YEAH, ONE YEAR!!! I am so happy for you guys. Hope you had a great day! Have fun celebrating over the weekend in your mini-vacation.

Tricia :)

Doctors, Doctors, and more Doctors

Well, I just got home from yet another doctor's visit. This was to the one who did the first eye surgery...a follow-up. I am doing great and no need for any adjusting right now. Anything he would adjust would possibly make the areas that have already gotten used to the prisms in the glasses to change. SO...for now...we are staying as is! Which I am TOTALLY fine with...ready to be done with this going to the doctor thing.

Of course I am NOT done...that would never happen here. We have one doctor's visit to my regular doctor in October. We have 2 doctor's visits in November, one to the neurologist for a check-up on the head and one to the eye plastic surgeon for more follow-ups. Then of course their is the annual visit to the gyno for...well you know! So...I am far away from being done. At least the doctor from today says all is well until March.

Just an update...hope and pray you all have a great week!

Tricia :)

Our little baseball star

Mariah and Daddy were out in the yard playing "baseball" and I got some pictures. Looks like we have a lefty in the family. However, as you will see, she bats both ways. We have a little leaguer with some major potential! Ok, we are a bit biased but I say she is pretty good for a 3 year old....you decided!

Our left handed batter...

...or is it right?

And now a little video...it is a bit long but she tries really hard...no sound because we got it with our digital camera, which doesn't have sound! If there are some grandparents out there (hint, hint) that would like to hear her as well as see her....you know what we need. :) She actually gets some good hits and she is a super thrower as well. Again..a bit biased. Most of the good hits came before I thought to get the camera. We will now have it outside at all times! Enjoy!!!!

Happiness Happens Month-August

Ok people, just as the title says....HAPPINESS HAPPENS!! We can be happy...imagine that! So this month will be all about happiness...what makes us happy, choosing to be happy, sharing happiness to all you meet! So go out there and be happy for crying out loud. You have to...the month is all about it!


I had a couple of choices...one of which was Neurosurgery Outreach Month....something I am familiar with. However last month was a more serious subject so I decided to forgo that idea and go right to choosing happiness.

Make happiness happen this month....wherever you go!!!

Tricia :)

Sunday Evening Babbling

So, it is Sunday evening...just after 11pm and I am up still. Not totally sure why but not really that tired so I thought I would post something. I am sure you are all tired of my last post with the "beautiful" pictures of my recovering eyes so....here is something else to look at.

I relearned something today....happiness is a choice. I had many opportunities to not be happy today, for whatever reason, but I decided to just let that go. I have discovered that I am a much more fun person to be around (of course me not having much of a choice in that) when I choose to be happy, regardless of a circumstance.

It was a BEAUTIFUL day here in PA. We had a church picnic after the service today at a local park. It is so much fun to be around people who are your friends outside of the "church" atmosphere...you know...in the "real world" outside. Our church is such a family and it is so awesome to just hang out with each other and encourage each other. Some time if you are in the Mt. Pocono, PA area you should come join us in our worship services. We really enjoy worshiping God together and I think you would find it refreshing.

Well, as my title says....I am just babbling tonight. Felt like getting some things out of my head and on "paper" or computer...whatever!

So, leave me a comment about your day...babble if you want...or don't. I just wanted to have something new on my blog page...and of course..."talking", whatever it's form, is something I love to do!! All the pictures I added are random and just for something cool to look at.

I just realized only 10 more days until the next monthly holiday post! I hope you are ready for more fun!! I know I am!

Until next time...I bid you farewell. Have a great week!

Tricia :)

Update

I just had my doctor's appointment today for the post-op and my doctor said all is well. She removed the stitches and said I don't need to see her for 3-4 months. YIPEEE!!!





I am feeling GREAT! I have all my energy back and am seeing quite well (see photos: first I am not trying at all, second I am trying to lift my eyes). Thank you to all who have been praying.










Tricia :)

Chatting time

Come join me here for some fun chatting. Just click on the "Download for free" button and follow the instructions. When you want to find me my nickname is "knappfam3." If you have a webcam and mic we can see each other too.

Tricia :)

Getting back to normal

I am posting to let all you want to know how I am doing. I had surgery on June 25 to lift my eyelids. I only wish this was for aesthetic reasons....quite the contrary. I know some of you know but for those who do not, I had surgery January 17, 2007 to remove a brain tumor. This led to issues with my eyes due to the fact that a nerve was damaged. So the next surgery was to fix double vision and other eye issues (that was November of 2007). That was a very successful surgery and now I where prism glasses to correct what could not be fixed.

So, if you look below you will see the results (and I am still healing) of June 25th. The surgery involved the doctor inserting material that made it so my eyebrows do the work of the eyelids...being that the eyelids no longer work on their own. When I try to lift (using my eyelids) I get one result...a more open eye. But even without trying I can see great and they are open most of the way. God is so good (He always has been) and I am so thankful to Him that I am doing well and healing so fast.

I know that I have gone through this time for a reason. I am not sure what yet but the day I know...I will definitely share with you. If I don't find out until heaven then I can rejoice with Jesus there.

Again, thanks for your prayers and don't stop. Every day is a new day to celebrate. Hopefully soon we will have some other good news....but that will wait until then! :)

Trying to lift my eyes

Not trying to lift my eyes

Tricia :)

Stop the "if only"

Go here and read something I think we all need to read. I think we need to be content where God has us and try to live a life that pleases Him...not "me." Hope it inspires you!

Tricia :)

Please read this!!

Here is one way you can make a difference in some children's (and young adults) lives. Read this and then commit to helping or praying. God is so wise and allows things into our lives that help us to grow stronger. I hope this inspires you today!

Tricia :)




Total side note....this is my 50th post! Yippee!!!!

National Make A Differece To Children Month-July

Yes, very long title. I decided to go with something serious this month. I think we can all do better by the kids in our lives...whether it means just saying I love you more or teaching them something to take them through life. Most importantly we can share Christ with them and draw them to Him through our example.

So, this month, tell your kids you love them more. Play with them more. If you kids are grown pray more. If you don't have kids...love and help the kids in your life or the ones you come in contact with this month....and beyond. They are the future (as they say) so let's help them make right choices to leave a legacy for Christ.

Ok, I am done on my soap box! See my favorite kid below!

Tricia :)

Home Recovering

Hey all! Well, I am home recovering from surgery number 3 and doing well. I want to thank all of you who have been praying and I will keep you posted.

On another note, go here to read something I think we all need to read. I found this blog through another friends and have enjoyed his writings. He is a pastor in the Outer Banks and I think it is worth your time to read the blog.

Anyway, I will keep you posted on how I am feeling!

Tricia :)

Random Fun

I just thought I would post some random pictures of the family from our most recent visits together.

Luis and Baby Gabriel
This is my sister-in-law, Jenn, husband and their son.
We were with them all this last weekend.

Mariah in Aunt Becky and Dan's pool this past weekend

Mariah and Uncle Doug
This is Danielle's husband

Mariah with Aunt DeDe (Danielle)

Grandpa, are you sleeping?
Mariah with my Dad

Mariah and Grandma O.

My sister Kate

My nephew Gabriel
I love this little boy!

Tricia :)

The Three Sisters together again!

Yesterday Mariah, Kate, and I went up to New Life Island for a fun day together. My sister Danielle lives there with her husband, Doug who is on staff. Kate is in town for a wedding this weekend so we decided to make a day of it and spend time together....the three of us (and Mariah). We had a fun day! Enjoy the pics....some may not make sense to you but if you knew us....well you would get it!

Danielle getting her hair dyed...after all...that is why Kate comes (just kidding!)

Danielle (a.k.a Foil Head) playing while she waits

Me getting my haircut...Thanks Kate!!

The Three Sisters

Ok, here comes the...interesting part!!

Laughing REALLY hard...

...as Kate read this book

You can only imagine....SOOO FUNNY!!

This may help you to imagine!!

So, we had a really great day...just hanging out! I miss these girls when we are not together. Happily we get a chance to be together for Labor Day weekend. The best part is we get a whole week together in January for a trip to FLORIDA!!! Can't wait!!

Tricia :)

Trip to the Zoo

We had this fun day after Mariah's little party day! It was a great time and Mariah loved all the animals. I will spare you all the animal pictures but you can enjoy us enjoying the day!

With Grandma O. checking out the lemurs

Look, Grandma found a wandering
monkey...cutest one I have ever seen!

With Daddy seeing the Elephants

With Mommy feeding the goats

Waiting for the camel ride

Yes....I am on a camel...Mariah loved it...me, not so much!

So, we had a great time. There are many more pictures but these were the highlights of the day! Needless to say, I am zoo-ed out for a little while!

Tricia :)

Mariah's Birthday Party

Yes, I know, that was over a month ago but I have just now gotten all the pictures from those who took them. So...pictures of the day!

Presents.....Yippee....Candyland!!

Had to play right away....after our bath

The cake...Mommy made it...it is a Candyland cake
Do you see the theme???

We are a little excited about the cake!

Blowing out the candles

(This was actually after the other one...we got dressed)

We actually had this party at my sister's place...combined with my brother-in-laws graduation party weekend. It was a great, short little party!

Tricia :)

Happy Father's Day

To the father of my little girl:
You are a wonderful father. Mariah always wants to be with you and you always make time for her. You are such a great example to her of how to live for Christ and we are seeing that in how she prays at night and asks about God all the time. Thank you for all you do for us! You work hard every day to provide for us...even though you really do not like your job. You come home, tired, but so happy to see us and ready to play with Mariah. I appreciate you so much! Happy Father's Day!

To my husband:
I love you more than words can say. You are so supportive of me and loving that words can not really express how I feel. Thank you for standing by me this last year and a half of surgeries and recovery. Not once have you complained about helping when I was too tired. Not once have you said to get over it when I was having a hard time with healing. I am so thankful for you and all that you are. I appreciate you so much!

To the other daddies out there: Happy Father's Day! May you have a great day celebrating with the children who make it possible for you to have this day!

Tricia :)

The Swingset/Playground is DONE!!!

This has been quite the 2 week process. Mariah got a swing set/playground from her grandparents and aunts and uncles for her birthday. Jeremy and I have been putting it together off and on for 2 weeks. We are SO GLAD it is DONE. Below is the process in full color photos...enjoy!

First step...the Slide. Jeremy had the joy of doing that
alone because I had not made it home yet!


Step two....the rock wall/ladder for the side...this one I helped with!

Steps three-twelve...this thing you see above..basically the frame.

Getting closer...walls are up!

Mariah was a really good helper!

TaDa....finished product!

Mariah showing off the main section

The swings

The slide...and Mariah trying it out!

The picnic bench and potential sandbox...no sand for now

Mariah enjoying the swings

All in all, this was fun. Jeremy does not want to do this again....EVER! But Mariah is going to enjoy it for a long time so we are happy it is up.

Tricia :)