Dear Isabella,

Hey baby. We've had a few new developments in the last few weeks. We traded in my Corolla and got a 2003 Dodge Grand Caravan. We've been wanting to get a van and got a really great deal on this one. It's so cool! Now we're going to drive to Joplin this April and we're bringing Uncle Roger with us! It's going to be such a fun road trip. :-)

On the flip side, I had to go to the emergency room on Saturday with an apparent gallbladder attack. I thought they would find an ulcer, but no, they found gallstones. So I have to have surgery now to get my gallbladder removed. Bleah. Not a big deal, but that means I have to postpone, yet again, my trip to Washington. I hated having to tell Charlotte (on her birthday, no less) that I have to cancel my trip this week. I'm waiting to hear from the doctor to get my surgery referral through so we can get this ball rolling. Now I'm on a bland food diet, which means mostly jello, "white" food (white bread, potatoes, rice), and anything else that is easily digestible. I can't have any fat or spices. Boooooring, but I'll do anything to avoid another attack. It's messing with my new diet. Yes, daddy and I are on a new diet. We decided that eating more sensibly more often is the key, along with exercise and plenty of water. We call it the Hobbit Diet. It's based on eating 6 or so small meals throughout the day to get our metabolism going. Also, some of the "meals" are more like snacks like yogurt or a fruit cup or cottage cheese. So, we have Breakfast, Second Breakfast, Elevensies, Luncheon, Afternoon Tea, Dinner and Supper. It's working for us, thought it's a bit harder for daddy at work, but he's getting better.

Feeling oogy...gonna rest now. :-*