Grateful moment

This trying to remember to find something everyday to be grateful for, that is different and or at least means something, is not as easy as I thought it would be. So here goes. I am grateful that Kim makes our bed. Not just on the days I leave for work and he is still in it, but even on the days I am home and just haven't gotten to it yet.

Special things have happened to each of the kids this week, so I am grateful for that.
Melanie had a follow up appt. with a arthritis Dr. and he said all her tests and xrays look good and nothing is saying she has Rhumatoid arthrits or any of the horrible things that go with it. She was very excited about that.
Jodi got a new and better paying job and seem excited for that. Her trip to Spain is nearing and has been expanded to a bunch of other counteries so that will be great.
Gordon and Jessica were able to buy a much needed, more reliable car that they have been looking at and so now they need to sell Jessicas.
Matt got a new job that will work out great with his schoolschudle and so far, 4 days into it,he likes Weber.
Kim is getting better and is almost stright. He will cont. with the antibiotics for 1 more week and his lab work looks good.
So everyone is great and I can't wait to see what My "Good news minute" will be this week.

Not much to say

Today was Monday, another day at work trying to stay organized and keep things running and nurses from going crazy with the rapid turnover of Pt's.

My thankful moment today is that I have a good paying job. I never looked at it as a career, because I didn't want a career, I wanted to make home, and family my full time job, but other things played into that. So I'm grateful that I have a job with some meaning, that I can be proud of, that does help other people and that I can make some money at.

Yesterday, Sunday I had many things to be grateful for, and of course family was part of that. I love when the married kids come for Sunday dinner. We have a good time and laugh and joke and find out all kinds of secrets about each of them. Melanie says the untold truths from everyones high school days are not to come out until everyone is out if the house, but we learned that Gordon had a run in with a dead cat, thanks to Jessica. She has an inside look now, and that helps.

My my other grateful thing is that I know how to sew. I had a dress that I had bought for the temple of Gordon and Jessica's wedding and the day before I burned a hole right through the collar and ruined the dress. I almost tossed the jacket and was just going to keep the sleeveless dress and ware it with a sweater, but I took off the collar and sewed the neckline together and it looks like it was meant to be that way.

Just a quick memory. I took 2 summers of sewing classes with all the girls from our ward at the Jr. High between 6Th and 7Th grades and I have been grateful for that ever sense. Thanks mom. My girls didn't get that same learning experience, so I'll try and make up for that by making Halloween Costumes until I die.

Being Thankful

Saturday is a special day it's the day we get ready for Sunday! So when is our DAY of REST. Today's being grateful thought was easy becasue I'm doing house work. I once was asked in conversation what I thought the greatest invention ever invented was and without much thought I said the Washing Machine.

Now stop and think about it. You may come up with something much more profound, but really, it's the washing machine. Can you even imagine out washing everything you wear every time you wear it,going outside in some big basin or stream near by and scrubbing until the clothes are clean. Doing it by hand, usually in freezing water, or boiling the clothes on the stove if you really wanted them clean.

I would bet if we asked our ancestors which they would rather have, now I am talking the women folk or single, windowed men, which they would rather have, a lap top computer, blackberry, telephone, or even the automobile, what do you really think they would say.

Now I can and have lived without a dryer, even when the girls were in diapers (yes clothe diapers), I have lived without a computer, cell phone, DVD player, I have even been in a one car family before and road a bike to work. But I cannot and will not be without a Washing Machine. If ours breaks I will call a repair man imm. and have even been know to cry when he said he wouldn't have the part for 3 days. He ridged something up for me until the part came in. I almost kissed him. I did call his employer and tell them what a great job he did.

So give it some thought and see if you agree with me that the WASHING MACHINE is the greatest invention known to man and mostly women.

Things to be grateful for.

When we stop and think how grateful we are for things, and how blessed we are, family comes very first then my membership in the Church of Jesus Christ of Later day Saints,and the love of the Lord, my testimony and then all the other wonderful and special things in our lives. We have warm homes, food enough to share, jobs to support our own livelihood, health issues that can be managed, a country where we are free and safe, and have rights that others only dream of and want for themselves.

We and I mean Me have so much to be grateful for, but there are days when I find myself wanting more, or feeling sorry for myself when things aren't going just right, more or less a pity party for one.

After talking to a good friend about this I was told her sister was feeling the same way one day and decided that at the end of everyday she was going to come up with at least one new thing she was grateful for, no matter how small or insignificant it might seem. So my goal with each blog and each nightly prayer that I might do the same.

The great pictures at the beginning are just a few of my many blessings. Those are the obvious ones.(Plus I learned to do a slide show).

Today I am grateful I visited a sick Uncle and spent time with my daughters and husband. Yesterday as I left the hospital from work I was grateful I was parked in the shade, and that my truck always starts, and that Matt landed safe in California.

Fun filled Friday(crafts night)

Our RS is getting ready for our Craft night. This will be the 4Th one I've planned. Our ward had never had a "Super Sat." before so we started doing one when I was put in the Pres. It seems to always be a big hit, but coming up with the ideas is getting harder and harder.

These are a few of the ideas that we are doing if anyone is interested. I won't put a picture of each because I don't know how to so a slide show yet.

The few I won't show are the sandblasted Pyrex dishes $3.00 each you bring your own new dish, baby bracelets, crochet dish rags, free, you bring your yarn and hook. The others are lite glass snowman $7.00, gift card book, $7.00, this is binder that you can list each months birthdays and special events and then also have the card with each month. Over the door decoration , 8 different choices $10.00, 17 alphabet blocks that can spell out 50 or more sayings, $20.00 set, 3x3 wood blocks with either your own pictures or just decorate with scrape book paper & any word or family name, $1.00 each block, large door pumpkin $3.50 and 2 small pumpkins $4.00 set. If any one has questions or wants to do any of these things just let me know.

Family stuff; Kim is doing better each day, except one of the antibiotics is making it very difficult for him to concentrate on work and reading and remembering,(or at least that is his excuse), but when he told the infectious Dr. he imm. changed him to a new one, so we hope it will help and that he doesn't have any permanent brain damage (just kidding).

Matt is getting ready to head off to Cali. tomorrow with his friends and try surf boarding and beach bumming. I'm sure he'll have a great time and then when he gets home, Monday, school starts Tues. so we wish him well and success. Enough for now.

Not the happiest place on Earth

Melanie and I are on mini vacation. We went to California. Landed in Long Beach and are staying in Carson City. Today, Friday we went to Universal Studios. Now the last time we were there was 15 years ago. So you would think a lot would change. Well NO. In fact King Kong and Jaws haven't aged a bit. They both look great. That darn earth-quake still ruins the subway. How ever there is a very large airplane in the middle of a subdivision now (War of the Worlds).

So what is the draw? Is it the expensive admission price, the very hot weather, the pricy food, long lines, pushy people, crying kids, or I know the barely dressed people. What ever the draw people from all over the world still come and spend their money.

Now it may sound a little selfish that I am here without any other family members, but any one who wanted to come was invited. Jodi is going to Spain in one month, Matt and his friends are coming to Disneyland next week, Kim didn’t want to come. So here I am. We are having a nice time, but as far as Universal Studios goes, once every 15 years or even in a life time is enough.

A story to tell...someday.

You know when you go to a funeral and they tell great stories. Don't you wonder how they remembered it, or who told them, or was that person really that great. Well I have a funeral story, not to be told anytime soon, but to be remembered.

Many years ago the whole family was getting ready to leave the house in the morning at the same time. Amazingly enough the kitchen was cleaned up, the counter de-cluttered and everyone was leaving.

I had just gone to put my sunglasses on my face and suddenly they broke right in half. I remember saying I really loved those glasses, they just fit so perfect and they weren't even scratched yet. I left the two pieces on the bar and we all left.

I got home first around 2pm and there on the bar were a pair of perfect sunglasses. No broken nose piece. I picked them up, looked at them and was so confused. They were the exact same ones I had broken that morning, no repair marks, just perfect glasses. I just stood and looked at them and really felt strange.

As the kids came home I questioned each one and no one knew what had happened, but we all remember them being broken. When Kim finally got home I asked him about them and he said he went to Ross's and got me a new pair. The exact same pair. He said I told him at some point in the morning that I had gotten them there. I didn't remember telling him.

Kim has given me many many gift's many have made me cry. Just ask our kids. Big power tools make me cry. But those simple, and not expensive sunglasses have always been a favorite. I wish I still had them, but I do still have the Love and thoughtfulness of the man who gave them to me. I hope everyone at some point in their lives receive such a kind and thoughtful gift.

Sundays, Life and a Slow day at work!

I have worked Sundays for as long as I have worked, 30 years. I started when I was 12yrs. old. But it has never gotten easier. There are a lot of reasons why I do it and here are a few. When the kids were little we didn't use daycare, Kim was home and took over. It just always seemed to work. But now I just can't bring myself to work 5days a week. I'm not sure if I'm spoiled or lazy or just set in my ways, but I love having days off during the week. When no one else is home, the stores are less busy, I can work on crafts, (never house work), or go visit friends or MOM.

I have always been able to hold church positions though. When I was the Young Women pres.I would work Sunday nights and still be there each Sunday. And now in the RS pres. they just make due on Sundays. But I am able to help during the week with all the other stuff that happens. We have had 22 deaths in the 4yrs.so lots of Ham and potatoes. We would never be able to count the Births; we have very young and fertile water in Roy. So I hope the years I've worked and the meetings I've missed won't keep me out of heaven.

Over the years I have had off and on quilt about being a working mom, and not having the cleanest house in town, and canning every fruit off the tree and making my own levis. But I have learned to be very organized, and to prioritize what is really important with family and church. I was very willing to go without sleep (when I was young) and rearrange my schedule for all the family stuff, so I hope my kids and husband haven't been too scared from our choice for me to work.

I have always admired any young couple who make the opposite choice, to stay home. Kim didn't want me to work, but he had never told me what to do. He always said if you want to stay home you can. I grew up afraid of being left alone, of death, and so I had certain things I had do in my life. I wanted all my kids by time I was 32yrs. old, and needed my degree by then too. And I did. Turning 32 was very very hard for me and that is why I am still 32! Don't ask why unless you want the whole story.

I have rambled on and on and if you've even read this far you are most likely very board. But I have been very blessed to have the job I have and the even greater family I have with all their love and support. Until the next slow Sunday.

Church changes.

It was sad to hear about Elder Faust. He will be missed in the Presidency. Kim and I commented that the 3 had been together for ever and then we heard on the new that they had been the longest in history to serve together. I am sure we are heading for more changes in the near future of our leaderhsip. Change is always hard, but we know how improtant it is and that we are quided by great leaders.

So today was great, except that we were up at midnight and again at 1:30am to do the antibiotics. But we are getting them to a better and livable schedule. So we didn't hear that we need to change the medicine, so we'll just do as we've been told.

I want to thank everyone for their love and concern for Kim over these last few days and weeks. It is such a great feeling to know we can count on family and friends when we need them most, and we hope that we will always do the same. We have had a lot of great and wonderful family events this years and we have been together a lot, and I love it. I am sure DAD is so proud of they way we have all turned out and how much MOM is in the center of all we do. Thanks everyone and we love you all.

I could just kick someone!

I really don't know who I'd kick, but the term "Practicing Medicine" means just that, Practicing! Kim has always been a little unique {strange} but he has two and even a 3rd {personal 2nd opion} confused. So the fluid they got from his back was Negative, surgery right, that's what I told everyone. But once again they changed their minds. He just looks and acts too darn good, and is still feeling better every day. I'd love for him to walk and stand up straight again someday, but I'll take him a little crocked if that means he can walk and doesn't have to have surgery.

So he came home today and went to a meeting for work tonight. He has the PICC line and will receive 2 antibiotics twice a day for at least 4 weeks. He will get a repeat MRI in one month and hopefully they will see progress in the infected area. His Nuro Dr. gave us his cell # and said if he develops any changes in pain, numbness's, fever. etc. then call him imm. We really liked him.

Melanie's real good friend Bryan works for a Nuro-surgeon and they looked at Kim's MRI{we are going to sue them, HIPPA} and he said he would treat Kim the same way and said to tell us that Kim's Dr. is very well known and was heavily recruited by IHC. He also said he is currently treating someone the same way, with a lot of the same symptoms with no apparent reason for the infection. So if your back HURTS for more than a month beware!!!

One problem already tonight. Kim needed dinner and couldn't find the room-service menu. So sad.

Don't complain if your back HURTS

So today was another waiting, waiting, and waiting game. The infection Dr. came and ordered more blood work and for Kim to have a PICC line placed. That is a very long IV in your arm that can stay for months and months for long term antibiotics. Matt had one a year ago and did great. Then the nuro Dr. came and said, you definitely have an infection, but what to do about it is not so clear.

So Kim went down to Radiology for a xray guided needle aspiration of the infected area. It could be as bad as it sounds, but Kim did good, especially after some great pain medication. So the plan tonight is...if the aspiration shows Gram Positive, then he goes home and does antibiotics for weeks and weeks. If the aspiration is Negative then Kim needs back surgery. The Dr. needs to go in and clean out the infection, and while he's in there he would clean up about 4 disc of the arthritic disease. So once again we wait and I really don't know anything. So until tomorrow.

Tough men never get sick.

The men in our families just don't get sick, and that's the way it should be.This may be sooo boring to everyone else, but for me I'll write alittle about today and be able to vent{without tears}. Kim went in and had his MRI, he came up to my floor and said he was done and going back to work, and left. I had mentioned I would call his Dr.s office and give them his phone #'s so they could reach him if they needed to. While I was waiting on hold, at my desk, the clerk picked up the other phone and said "This is Dr. Williams, he wants to talk to you". He had seen me there earlier in the morning. My heart sunk!!! He told me the Radiology Dr. had called him and said that Kim had a big infection in his disk and in his muscle and that he needed to get back to the hosp. right now & be admitted, started on antibiotic, and poss go to surgery later in the day to relieve the pressure and drain the infection. You can imagine my reaction. I imm. started to try and find him, and just told him to come back and that he had an infection. I didn't mention the poss. surgery. I was a wreck by then and my great and wonderful co-workers and friends just took over and I was able to leave by the time he was admitted & in his room. Our Dr. had called me twice by-then just to keep me informed and asked again how sick he really was, and that he should be "as sick as a dog". but he isn't. The first Dr. the infection specialist showed us the MRI and where the infection was and also couldn't understand why he wasn't sicker, with a fever, more pain, nausea and such. He also said the dreaded word "surgery" & Kim by now is starting to feel sicker. But he also said we need to let the nuro surgeon make that choice or recommendation. He finally came and he also said he thought he would find a very sick and suffering pt. and he didn't understand either why Kim felt better and had never had a fever. After talking with us forever, he said "I have to treat the pt. not the xray, this may or may not be an infection even though the pictures look like it is. So he ordered an ton of labs and IV antibiotics and said "no surgery" until we got everything back tomorrow" Kim loved him!!! So now we wait. He says he feels better, and that this is crazy and he should go home. But we will wait and see, and I'm sure I'll have a better book to write tomorrow.

Getting old before our time!

So I'm starting this new, over my head, blog thing. Jodi has been so kind as to show me how to get started and I will probably need her every time I Blog. I often remind her and the boys, when I need their help regarding the computer, that I once spent many hours with them on homework, reading and attending everything that they ever did in their lives. It's a great quilt tool. I have watched as Annie has started this and now I love reading hers along with Mel's, Jodi' and Haley's. When Kim saw the book Annie had made he thought it would be a great way to record a journal with out actually writing in a journal.

The Last 31/2 weeks the brown cane has been Kim's best friend. But the picture is what he looks like. He had a totally normal sat. July 8th. He went hiking in the morning, did some yard work, we went to dinner and a movie and her came home and mowed the lawn in the dark. On Sunday he couldn't move. He's been to a chiropractor 2x's our Dr 3x's and neighborhood message therapist 2x's he's had muscle relaxants, steroids, and pain pills with 2 refills. I think he might be starting to get better. But this has been a slow process and I'm ready for him to be back to his old self. He has never watched so much TV is his whole life.