Merry Christmas!

It's hard to believe our third and final Christmas in Japan is over. It's hard to believe the year is pretty much over too. It's crazy! For those that may have missed it, here's a look at our year plus some more recent things that have happened since I last updated.
The year started with Ben switching jobs in early February. He now works for the Commanding General and all the important people up there, setting up their transportation when they have places to go and when special visitors come here. The end of March we made another trip down to Okinawa to see the specialists again. We finally found the cause of the pain that Ben started having while deployed to Kuwait last year. It was a super rare thing called Epiploic Appendagitis. It's basically a fatty tumor that wasn't cancerous, just painful. The next few months were pretty quiet. The mid/end of July he started having pain again, in the same place. We went to one of the surgeons at the air base up here (instead of going down to Okinawa again), and they did surgery in mid August and found adhesions that had formed at the previous surgical site. So those were removed and we started the recovery process again. During that same time my brother came and stayed with us for about a month. That was wonderful! I had been feeling pretty home sick and having him here had helped ease that. Smokey and Misty loved having someone else here to give them attention too. I wish we could have done more while he was here, but it really was just nice having him visit. Not much happened the next couple months. About mid October Ben started having pain AGAIN. Now here's the part that I haven't updated everyone with: We've been back to the surgeon, and while he's pretty sure it's adhesions again, he won't do surgery again. While I can understand his reasoning not to (the adhesions will more than likely just form again), I hate seeing my husband in so much pain all the time. He was given a tens unit (an electo-shocker device) that helps take the edge off a little bit, but doesn't really help over all. The surgeon also put in a referral for him to go to the pain clinic at Tripler in Hawaii. He said there's basically nothing we can do about the adhesions except learn to live with the pain. He does not recommend surgery again or the use of narcotics for the pain. Honestly I think he's a retard and don't really agree. As much as I hate sending my husband off to the operating room, I think we need to try the surgery one more time. There are things that can be done during surgery to help deter the adhesions from developing the wrong way. We just need to find a surgeon who agrees. We've also got a referral to go see the specialized orthopedic surgeon in Hawaii. Apparently after his last shoulder surgery (the one in Sept '09), it didn't heal properly or something. So we're looking at another surgery for that too. That one was completely unexpected though. His shoulder still bothers him, but we weren't expecting to have to go to Hawaii for it. We're still waiting for dates as to when he'll (but hopefully we'll) be going. The referrals were put in over 3 weeks ago and we still haven't heard anything. Hopefully this next week we'll know, but I'm not holding my breath since it's the Holiday season. The sooner we know the better though. We are supposed to move the beginning of March, but we're not sure that will happen, or if it does where we'll be going. As of right now, we have orders to go to Fort Drum, New York, but those are to a brigade combat team set to deploy next year so he has to be deployment ready. And with all the medical problems he's having he's not. So we more than likely won't be going to Drum. In all honesty, it's looking more like we're headed for a med board and we'll be getting a medical discharge/retirement. I won't lie, I wouldn't be upset about that. As good as the army has been for us, things lately have just been ridiculous and I'm ready to be done with it. Not sure what we'll do when we get out, but I am ready to be out. So that's where we are with all of that right now. We really won't know more until we get to Hawaii and talk to the doctors there. I will try and be better about keeping this updated with everything that's going on though.
Now I guess I should add a few updates about myself. I forgot to add up above that I had surgery in July for endometriosis. Recovery was quick and easy. Probably could have used a little more recovery time, but that was about the same time that Ben started hurting bad again. So ready or not, it was time for me to feel better. I'm starting to feel some of the same pain again (which is expected because there really isn't a cure for endometriosis), but it's not nearly as bad as it was before the surgery. Hopefully it doesn't get that bad again. There's really not much else going on with me. I haven't been subbing at the school this year. Not because I don't want to, they just haven't called. Not that I mind. I stay home and try to be a good house wife. I've been in to some crafting lately. Particularly card making and a quilt I've been putting together. Every other week I have a day where I get together with a couple friends and we spend the day making cards and paper craft type things. One of these days I'll get around to posting some pictures of things I've made. So if anyone needs some cards for anything, let me know. I love making them, but then don't know what to do with them. I give some away, but not nearly as many as I make. I've also been kind of busy with my church calling. I was the primary music leader/secretary most of the year, but the end of October I was called to be the second counselor in the primary presidency. It's my first time in a primary presidency, and although it will be short it hasn't been too bad. It's pretty easy when you have a small primary like we do.
Anyway, it's time for bed. I'm going to try and be better about posting. I kind of got out of the habit there for a while. Hope every one has a happy and safe holiday season. Love and miss you all and we'll be home soon! :)