And the Verdict Is . . .

GALLSTONES! This isn't actually a picture of my gallbladder ultrasound, but it shows what gallstones look like in an ultrasound photograph. Yesterday Greg and I went to the medical clinic for the ultrasound, and the nurse who helped me was a little grouchy. I thought she would laugh when I asked her if it was a boy or girl, but she didn't laugh very much. They sent the ultrasound results to our doctor, and she called today to tell me that I have gallstones :-( But, at least that explains the stomach attacks I've been having, and there is a solution--surgery. Supposedly gallstone surgery isn't too bad these days--it's typically an out-patient orthoscopic surgery, so that's good. I am scheduled for a consultation with the surgeon next Thursday. So now I just need to watch my diet and not eat anything fatty until the gallstone is gone. Greg and I are getting set to watch a show on the History Channel called "Stealing Lincoln's Body." I am very excited.

Adventures in Seven States

On Tuesday Greg and I returned from a wonderful trip to the South! We traveled through seven states (Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, and Indiana) with our main destination being Liberty, South Carolina to visit the Agates. It was so wonderful to see Sarah, Joel, and Eliza!

We left Athens bright and early on Friday morning and headed south through Tennessee. Our first stop was Stones River National Battlefield in Murfreesboro, Tennessee. It was so beautiful and peaceful there. Stones River was the first battle to take place after Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation in 1863--so at that point the Civil War was starting to move in an entirely new direction as the reason for fighting shifted more from states' rights and preserving the Union to slavery.

Stones River has some very interesting topography. Later in the day we found out that visiting a site with the word STONES in the name was very appropriate (continue reading to find out more). Greg and I also found a cool little Civil War relic shop right next to the battlefield.

Our next stop was the Chickamauga/Chattanooga National Battlefield. This park is absolutely massive, as it is the site of two major Civil War battles and spreads from Tennessee into Georgia, so all we could do was scratch the surface of this one. At the park visitor center they have a three million dollar gun collection that was donated to the National Park Service. It was quite amazing to see the evolution of guns from the 1500s to World War II.

We then stopped at Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield in Georgia (just outside of Atlanta). As you can see, the view of Atlanta from the top of Kennesaw Mountain is quite spectacular. Unfortunately it was here that the STONES enter the story. As we were descending the mountain in the car, I started getting a strange sensation in my upper abdomen, as if someone had put a baseball right under my sternum. The pain quickly became more intense, and by the time we got down to the visitor center, I was quite uncomfortable. I ended up out on the lawn to the side of the visitor center, rolling around in pain. It started to feel like someone was ripping the baseball out of my stomach. I thought that I was for sure either going to throw up or die, but neither happened, and as suddenly as it had started, the pain went away. It was a wonderful relief, but I was very confused as to what had happened. After a similar attack the very next day, Mom thought that it sounded like GALLSTONES! And, indeed that is what the doctor has suggested is my problem (more on this will follow). After recovering from the sudden stomach attack, we made the final leg of the trip to South Carolina. It was very fun to see how much little Eliza has grown up since I last saw her in August (Greg hadn't seen her since June). She is such a big girl!

On Saturday the Agates took us up to Asheville, North Carolina to visit the Vanderbilt family's estate: the Biltmore. It is absolutely incredible. The house is in a beautiful setting, and everything about it is beautiful. The staff there has gone to great lengths to preserve and restore the home to its original splendor.

Eliza was quite serious about visiting the "Bilt" as she calls it :-)

For lunch we ate at the Stable Restaurant which is literally housed in what used to be the horse stables. Those horses had it pretty good. The food was delicious, and we topped off the meal with a delightful Valentine's Day dessert. What a fun day!

On Sunday we went to church, but poor Eliza wasn't feeling very well. So we took a drive out to Cowpens National Battlefield so that she could have a good nap in the car. Cowpens is beautiful! It is the site of a major Revolutionary War battle that lasted for less than an hour. Sarah and Joel then fixed a delicious Sunday dinner and invited some of their friends over to eat with us.

On Monday while Sarah and Joel were getting some things done at school, Greg and I went over to Greenville, South Carolina for a little outing. It was a beautiful sunny day, and we even broke out our shorts. Even though it was 60 degrees, we were the only ones wearing shorts--I guess it still felt chilly to those who are used to warmer temperatures. Greenville has done a big downtown project and added this pretty waterfall to the landscape of their city. I took Greg to the Museum of the Confederacy, which we both enjoyed, and we also found some fun antique shops. For lunch I had some of the best salmon I have ever eaten.


Then we met Sarah and Eliza over at Clemson while Joel was taking a test. We enjoyed some delicious ice cream from the Clemson Creamery, and then we took a fun little jaunt over to the historic town of Pendleton. Eliza is quite the good historic site trooper.





We stopped at an old cemetery in Pendleton where Confederate general Barnard E. Bee is buried. He is most well-known for giving General Jackson the nickname "Stonewall." I was especially interested to see General Bee's grave because he was one of the soldiers stationed out at Camp Floyd in Utah before the Civil War.





Then on Tuesday we had to leave South Carolina :-( I wish we could have stayed longer, but some people have school and jobs :-) Sarah, Joel, and Eliza were off to Florida for a conference, and Greg of course had to get back to work. It was so nice of Sarah and Joel to let us come stay with them even though they are so incredibly busy with school! I can't even imagine doing all they do, but the end is in sight for them, so I know they can make it. Greg and I took a little different route going home. We went up through the tip of North Carolina and then drove across Tennessee to Nashville. Then we headed up to Hodgenville, Kentucky to stop at the Abraham Lincoln Birthplace National Monument. Hooray for Lincoln sites! It was especially fun to be there so soon after his 200th birthday.

A few weeks ago Kentucky was hit with a massive ice storm, and the Lincoln Birthplace is still trying to recover. There were trees down all over the place. It was fun to go into the "Lincoln Temple," as my classmates and I named it when we studied the Greek-style structure built around the Lincoln cabin in our architecture class.

The cabin inside the structure is "supposed to" be the one where Abraham Lincoln was born, but no one knows if it really is. At least it stands on the site of the original cabin and gives people something tangible to look at. I saw something on the History Channel one time where they tried dating the logs on the cabin, and they didn't appear to date back to 1809. But that's okay--it's still cool.

Our final stop was in Louisville, Kentucky at the Louisville Slugger Museum and Factory. That is one big baseball bat standing out front! We didn't have time to actually tour the museum or factory, but mostly we just wanted to get some mini Louisville Sluggers at the gift shop. Then we drove up through Indiana and then made it home to Illinois that evening. Our animal children were extra cuddly when we got home (we had a friend take care of them while we were gone, but they were still happy to see us). What a fun trip we had!

Then yesterday I went to the doctor about my stomach attacks. They had me lay down while they took my blood which was good because while they were trying to poke the vain in my right arm, it disappeared, so they had to switch arms and by that time I was feeling a little woozy. The nurse put a cold washcloth on my face because I was getting too warm. At least I didn't pass out this time! They think the problem is probably my gallbladder and sent me to Springfield today to have an ultrasound of my gallbladder. Unfortunately I had one more attack yesterday afternoon. The attacks seem to be brought on my foods with higher fat content, so today I've been very careful to only eat very light things. Yesterday's attack happened while I was having lunch with Greg at the funeral home. They have really nice bathrooms with couches at the funeral home, so I was able to go lie down on the couch while the attack passed. Greg was nice to sit by me and wipe off my tears (the attacks hurt really bad and last for about 20 minutes). I am just grateful that my gallbladder problems are not happening while I am six months pregnant--as they did for Mom when I was still in her tummy! I can't imagine having those attacks and not being able to curl up into a little ball. This morning the ultrasound people took pictures of my gallbladder, but we won't know the results of that until tomorrow at the earliest. We'll see what happens. After going to the medical clinic today, Greg and I went over to the Lincoln Home to fill out some paperwork for my job there. The law enforcement officers fingerprinted me, and we got to meet the Lincoln Home's very own "Ranger Pup." He is soooooo cool! He wears a vest and a little ranger badge on his collar. That will be a fun place to work.

The Big 2-0-0

Happy 200th Birthday President Lincoln! In celebration of his birthday, I went to his house. It was wild and crazy there. I'm sure that every elementary school kid in Springfield was there. The park rangers were serving birthday doughnut holes at the visitor center. I was able to talk with some of the rangers there about my upcoming employment, and I think it will be a great experience. It was really neat to be there on his Bicentennial birthday. After a visit to his house, I went over to the Old State Capitol to get some envelopes stamped with the special Bicentennial cancellation. There were about five billion people there, and I had to wait in line for two hours, but it was okay because now my collection of Abraham Lincoln postage memorabilia is complete. Early tomorrow morning Greg and I will head out for South Carolina--and it's the perfect time because a snow storm is supposed to blow into Illinois tomorrow afternoon. I'm finished with winter--so we'll head off to where the sun shines all the time. We're so excited to see the Agates!

Four Score

First off, I have some excellent news: I am going to be a park ranger at the Abraham Lincoln Home National Historic Site!!!! Ranger Tiff is back. The chief ranger called this evening to tell me the good news. I'll go sign some paperwork next week, then hopefully I can start working early in March. Hoooooray! I am very excited.

Speaking of Abraham Lincoln, on the eve of his 200th birthday, the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum is holding an overnight vigil in his honor. We're not crazy enough to go spend the night there, but we did go to the museum this evening to see the special Lincoln documents that will be on display until 8:00 tomorrow morning. It was soooooo cool! We got an up-close look at the Emancipation Proclamation, the Gettysburg Address, and the Thirteenth Amendment.














Abraham Lincoln signed the Thirteenth Amendment on February 1, 1865, but it did not become law until December 1865--eight months after Lincoln's death. There's something special about seeing the actual documents he wrote or signed. It establishes a certain connection with him. It was so cool to read the words in Lincoln's handwriting:

"That from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they here gave their last full measure of devotion--that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain--that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom--and that, government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth."

Tomorrow is the BIG DAY--Lincoln's 200th birthday. I plan to head to his house bright and early, then I'll go get some things stamped with the special Lincoln Bicentennial cancellation at the Old State Capitol. I'll have to try to be home before everything shuts down when King Obama arrives to steal Lincoln's spotlight tomorrow evening. Just kidding--I won't go there, though I have plenty to say about it :-)

Greg and I will be going to bed very early tomorrow evening because early early Friday morning we will embark on a fun Valentine's/President's Day trip to South Carolina to visit Sarah, Joel, and Eliza! We are so excited. We've got quite the fun trip out there planned--we'll stop at a number of Civil War battlefields including Stones River, Chickamauga and Chattanooga, and Kennesaw Mountain. We'll then spend three fun-filled days with the Agates and will drive home through Kentucky on Tuesday. We'll be sure to visit Abraham Lincoln's birthplace on the way home. We can't wait to see Sarah, Joel, and Eliza!

Speaking of Abraham Lincoln's birthplace, tomorrow a ceremony will take place there to officially launch the four new penny designs. The first penny--which will enter circulation tomorrow--features his Kentucky birthplace. Then throughout the rest of the year they will release the three other designs. So keep an eye out for the new pennies. Here's wishing you happy Lincoln dreams tonight!

Putting a Stamp on History

This is a great week. There is Lincoln stuff going on 24/7. It's pretty fun to be right in the middle of it. Yesterday morning I went to Springfield for the First Day Issue of the new Lincoln stamps. I was one of the first people to line up outside of the Old State Capitol Building, and at 9:00 they opened the gate and allowed the crowd to go inside and purchase items featuring the First Day Issue cancellation. Then it was time for the official stamp unveiling with the U. S. Postmaster General. My favorite part of the whole program was when the 114th Illinois Volunteers (a Civil War reenactment group) presented the colors. They started out downstairs at the Old State Capitol, and you could hear their drummer echoing through the whole building. Then they started playing "When Johnny Comes Marching Home" as they entered the House chamber. It was really cool. There were about a million people there, so I headed out as quickly as I could after the stamp unveiling. It was getting pretty warm (and smelly) in there with all of those people. After the stamp ceremony, I walked over to the Lincoln home, then I met with the director of a company called Springfield Tours. I am going to be a tour guide for them over the summer which should be very fun. The tour I'll be conducting is called "Mr. Lincoln's Springfield Bicentennial Walk." It will take place on Friday and Saturday evenings. It should be a fun way to earn some extra cash.

For the last two evenings Greg and I have been able to attend some special Bicentennial lectures at the Lincoln Museum. Last night we saw for the first time the totally awesome "Bicentennial Bike" which is on display in the museum lobby. It's so cool! Yes, that's solid copper on the wheels.

Last night we heard Richard Carwardine speak. He is from England and wrote the book Lincoln: A Life of Purpose and Power. He gave a very interesting presentation about Lincoln's perception of the world, and the world's perception of Lincoln. I even got a book signed by him! Tonight we heard a really cool lecture by Daniel Epstein who wrote the book Portrait of a Marriage about Abraham and Mary. It was very refreshing to hear a respected author talk about how much the Lincoln's loved each other. Lately it has seemed that everyone is talking about how Mary was crazy and made Abraham miserable and how he always wished that he had been able to marry Ann Rutledge. I've never bought into that idea, and I was glad to hear Epstein's presentation tonight. Greg is a good sport to go along with all of this Lincoln stuff ;-)

Lily just walked into the room dragging the belt from my bath robe. How did she get that? We had to buy some baby-proofing things for our doorknobs because somehow she's figured out how to open doors. She's so funny!