Birthday Girl

Happy Birthday Jessica

We love that you are in our family and that you love Gordon so much. We can see how happy he is.

Happy Birthday!

One lucky girl

Again it's been forever since I blogged.

I am finally feeling human again. I returned to work 2 weeks ago today and the incision is very sore at times, but I'm good. I have a better understanding of pain and how it affects people differently. I could never understand how someone could say they were in a lot pain, and then in a few min. be asleep, or just wake up and say they needed a pain pill. Pain pills DO NOT TAKE AWAY ALL THE PAIN, they only dull and make the pain TOLERABLE. So I will be more understanding and empathetic.

I Love and Love my grand baby. He is so cute and fun to be around. His little personality is showing through. We had a weekend over-nighter a few weeks ago and at church he was very picky about the toy he wanted, only the book, nothing else would do. He sits up and giggles, and rolls everywhere he needs to be. His smile is contagious. It would just be nice to be a little closer in distance, but I'm not complaining.

Music to my ears was when after Jodi had been in her own place for a week or so, she called to ask where something had been put, because Mel and I had done most of her kitchen and bathroom unpacking, so I told her where it was and my comment was " I am so glad you still need me", he comment back was "I will always need you and I am just not saying that, I will always need you", I just about started to cry, I still need my mom and now she is gone, so I am glad to be needed even if it's just to fine the Ibuprofen.

We have a joke about Kim and giving him gifts, he just doesn't get excited, or at least show excitement. And this fathers day was pretty close to normal, but I do want to Kids to know who couldn't be to dinner that he cracked a bigger smile than usual and said "what have you kids done" and I think that was very close to actual excitement, so way to go! He is the best and he deserves the best.

I have to give him a special thanks for his constant love and support during this whole surgery recovery thing. He has put up with a lot and never complained. he was always making sure I had what I needed and wanted to help when ever possible. He was cleaning and doing the laundry, which he does a lot of anyway, he shopped, cooked, ran errands, wanted to buy new furniture (which we barrowed instead), listened when I cried and was scared and was just so encouraging when I would get down, he even offered to take my primary nursery class for me, but that was taken care of. Kim has always been a much more giving and compassionate person than me, and I have often worried that that when we are old a crazy that he will be a better care giver than me, and now I know he will. So I need to learn from him and give back as much as is given. But now that I think about it Kim has always been this way, so I guess I am one Lucky Girl.

Simple Fun

Monday was Memorial Day, we remember those who have gone on before, the military service men and women who have died in the line of duty, putting flowers on loved ones graves sites, and just being together because it’s a holiday and a day off work for most. I don’t always get this day off, I typically work because there are other holidays I’d rather be off, but because I am still on sick leave, recovery from surgery, I was off and it was great.

Kim and I actually did 4 cemeteries on Friday, 7 grave sites. I am not sure if Kim grew up doing this as a kid, I’m pretty sure they went camping or worked on the farm. But I grew up visiting every site, and grandma and mom would cut their own flowers, the Irises and Roses from their gardens, cover the cans in foil and off we’d go, often ending in a family Bar-B-Q- at grandma's sister, Maxine’s, home.

This year was so simple but so fun. Karen and I thought is would be nice to have a family Bar-B-Q at her house. Not everyone could come, but with those that did, we had a great time. We ate great food, everyone brought their best salads, beans, fruit salsa, 7 layer dips, home made root beer, ice cream bars, chips , ect.
A ball throwing game, a very serious game of croquet, a numbers card game that took some strategy, and my personal favorite PIT were a few of the games played.

We then walked up to the Valley View cemetery, for the last of our flowers, where mom and dad are buried and Justin’s grandpa and a few other family friends. I can’t remember a more enjoyable day in a very long time. I felt MOM with us and knew how happy she was that we were together and having fun and creating new memories.

I am so blessed to have family, people who you can laugh with (and at), play with, talk to, remember with and just hang out with. The Lord really knew what he was doing when he made the Family the center of his plan.

Catch up-again

17 days ago I had the biggest surgery I've ever had and hope to ever have. I had to have my Sigmoid and partial colon removed. I have been left with a 9" scar, ending about 2" above my belly button and it truly tolls like a Frankenstein scar. I will show anyone who dares to look, just for the sympathy. I really think I am healing well and can move about without too much pain. My only
complaint and one that the Dr. and C-T scan figure out is why I have this fist size lump on the side of the incision that won't stop hurting and keeps me from being up for more than 30 min. at a time. Well this to will pass, some of my family think they left a sponge inside or a refreshing Jr. Mint.

As a mom I live in fear of missing one of my kids birthdays, which means not putting up the big Happy Birthday banner, which has gone up for at least 25 yrs. I know I would never really forget the whole day. But this year Matt turned 21, a big deal year. I didn't forget the banner, or the table runner or gift, or the special dinner, he actually got 2, even 2 cakes, but I did forget, or just wasn't up to it, the blogg. Moms really shouldn't add more things to remember as they get older, it's just not a good idea.

Mothers day was very nice this year. Many years ago my brother Paul started a tradition where he would fix mom dinner and then invite the whole family of one sibling to come and eat also, so every 4 years my family would get to enjoy dinner at Paul's for mom. I felt this year would be hard for all of us with mom gone so I invited Paul to come to our home for dinner, so he and I enjoyed a very nice dinner that Kim and the kids prepared. I love anytime we are all together and this was no different. My family wasn't to happy with what I wanted for mothers day, but I got it anyway. My truck detailed, inside and out, and for a 3 year old truck it looks fantastic. I haven't been able to drive it for a few weeks, but I have warned that no one better spill anything on the seats.

Kim also surprised me with a big, self watering, flower pot. Not just any old pot, but a 1 foot by 4 foot long, full of wave petunias pot. If you've never seen these a amazing pots, just drive along Riverdale road and 40th, a little later in the season, and see the amazing shop of the guy that makes and sells them, it is absolutely beautiful. Kim and I have both wanted one for a long time so now we do.

Our extended family has added a new baby to the group. Annie and Ross had a big boy join their family on the 12th. We are happy everything went well and hope to see them soon.

Jodi is getting ready to move to Salt Lake and start a new life adventure there. I will miss her terribly but we are all excited that this opportunity has come up and that she can go for it.

Hyrum is getting bigger and more interactive by the day and if I can't get to them a few times a week they come to me which really means a lot.

Life is good, I am blessed beyond measure, Kim is a fantastic care giver and never runs out of loving patience, and I have great friends and family with lots of compassion.

At least you can keep the foot

On our last day of the cruise I started to get a little sick, left sided low abd. pain. By time we finally got home my re-occurring Diverticulitis was flow blown again and off I went to the Doctors office where he agreed that was my problem. I have had this happen, now 4 times, over the last 3 years so I knew the road I was on. First I would have to take a couple of antibiotics, but one of them was made by satin himself called Flagyl. It can make you sicker than the illness, constant nausea, dry and metallic tasting mouth, and gut pain . But this time I was told it was time to see a surgeon about possibly having the infected piece of colon removed.

I have had other disposable organs removed, hysterectomy, gallbladder ,appendix and tonsils. I wasn’t so sure the colon was considered disposable. I guess the Lord gave us these types of body parts just to mess with us here on earth, because it sure seems like a waste of effort just to give them back in the here-after.

1st surgeon visit I was informed I was still infected, and needed a CT scan to make sure, and was put on more of satins pills and come back in one week. I did as I was told. My version of what I thought would happen yesterday at the appt. You are still infected (the pain is still present ), you need IV antibiotics and then we’ll talk about surgery (in my own time frame). The real conversation at the appt. You are still infected, I don’t think this is going to heal on it’s own you need surgery ASAP, before it gets worse and ruptures. Tears. More satins pills.

Then I was put on the conveyor belt of admission preparation. I was asked every personal question known to man, gave my blood, and my $$$. So Monday I am having a partial colon resection. And to add insult to injury I have to have a 2 day bowel prep, also devised by the devil, and clear liquids for 2 days. No birthday cake this weekend at the 2 parties.

So about my foot. As I was waiting in pre-admission a little older man was wheeled into the area and his wife sat down next to him and he said “not very good news it is?” she said “at least you get to keep the foot.” I am losing another disposable organ, one I am reassured I will do fine without, not one I wouldn’t do so well without. So as we all know “It could be worse” and count the blessing you have, and I have many.

Final note to self, get a perm today and anyone want to buy a ticket to Florida for next week.

This morning bright and early I headed out to a locally owned grocery store, Kent’s, for their Early Bird special. I actually needed things they had on sale so I knew even if they were busy it would be worth it. I have always liked their meat, cheese and produce.


Well all of Roy must have wanted to save some money too because we were all there. I got there 90 min. after they opened and the parking lot was packed, but one funny story was in-order to get a shopping cart you had to wait outside the door and help someone leaving the store, load their groceries, and then take their cart. I didn’t mind this at all and I visited with the women and we joked about the situation as we loaded her car, and I got my cart.


It is a very small store, very organized but very crowded. My shopping took about 45 minutes, and my line wait was 45min. But I visited with the women in front, and the couple in back and we would move each others carts if we wanted to go get more items, remember is was a great sale

.
Second funny story (or at least interesting), as I was leaving there was still a cart shortage and people waiting to help you to your car, plus now the store had a couple of young girls out their helping too, to make sure the carts came right back. So a very very large 30ish man asked for the cart, followed the young gal and I to my truck and stood with his arms folded while she and I unloaded the 2 heavy water boxes, the big box of frozen chicken breasts and all the other heavy and multi bags of stuff, (I even took all my reusable bags), he didn’t left a finger to help us, just watched. What a gentleman. I am sure he didn’t want to get in our way or intrude on our fun at all. You can come up with your own conclusion.


After thought. I have not banned Wal-Mart as many others have, it’s not my favorite place to shop, but they are usually cheaper and have a large variety of non grocery stuff, but it is so nice to see other stores and especially little local guys, still able to compete and make a difference in our ability to save money, and stock up.


I am grateful that in this “recession” we are still able to work and provide for our families needs and as Kim and I have often joked, as we have needed to purchased new things for our home, we are “doing our part to help the economy”. And I continue to pray that everyone will be able to do the same.

Travel Log

Warning: Could be boring!

Kim and I got home Sunday night from a 7 day Western Caribbean Cruise. We went on the (Bed creature, different each night)

Serenade of the Sea. We really had a good time. Having never done this before we weren’t really sure what to expect or how things were done, but there are people at every step of the way to make you do it right and never get lost.

We spent a night in San Juan before we boarded the ship and that was pretty uneventful. We did wander around a little on old San Juan but we didn’t see or really do anything. But once we boarded the ship we did a lot of wandering. They are huge and this one carries 2800 passengers and 900 crew.

(rooms looked like RV trailers, but they were very comfortable)

Each day we went on a different adventure and if that didn’t take all day, you could always shop. Shopping is something they want everyone to do. Especially shopping for diamonds. I have never seen so many Jewelery shops.

We went snorkeling on St. Thomas, which took me a little getting used to. I haven't done it since Hawaii (24 years ago) but it was fun. I don’t think we saw as many colorful fish and coral here but it was still a good adventure.

The next day we took a tour bus into the hills and all around St. Lucia to see the Pitons mountains. We also saw so much poverty and unemployed young adults and men, the homes were the size of many of our garden sheds, or single car garages. Everywhere we went people were trying to sell “stuff".

We couldn’t decide what to do on Antigua,

so we took a cab with some other people and went to a very beautiful beach and just hung out for the day. Kim was able to eat some authentic food, which just the smell made my mouth burn and eyes water, so I just ate his coleslaw. I have to admit I have never seen Kim just relax and hang out at a beach before so I kept asking him if he was bored and surprisingly he always said "no."

We split up on St. Maartin, because I didn’t want to go Scuba Diving.

(Kim getting on the ship just in the nick of time from Scuba Diving)

Kim went and had a good time and was able to “breath under water” something I do just fine above the water. But I went to the shopping area and learned how to ride or drive a Segway or people mover. I was totally surprised how fun and easy it was. We had one women chicken out, she kept telling her husband she wasn’t coordinated enough and just walked away. It took a little getting the hang of it, but after just a few minutes I had it down and off I went. (famous beach, where movies are frequently made, I don't know what movies)

We went on a 4X4 adventure on Barbados to see the Green Monkeys and other tropical forest type animals, and on the way there our guide told us all about the Real-Estate and how much everything cost and where famous people stayed and owned homes and got married, it was interesting but I’m not sure it was really the Island Tour speech he was supposed to give. He did however live up to the 4x4 adventure part by taking us off road through a sugarcane field and factory and about knocking all of us of the back of the truck. Not so fun! (Milton and Mary)

(watching Kite Surfing)

All in all I had a good time, I loved spending time with Kim and eating fancy dinners and having waiters remembered your name and meeting new people. Jodi said on hers they were Mormon magnets, we were not, and as far as I know we never meet or ran into an LDS person, but trust me I kept looking for signs, like no liquor in one or both hands, clothing that night be considered semi-church appropriate, the obvious “lines” under the clothing, but we still really enjoyed the people we did meet. (dinner companions and waiters)

2 single ladies at our dinner table cruise at lest 2 times a year, they have been doing it together for 15 years, since their husbands both died, and had done this same cruise 5 times, only because they love the ship, shopping and beaches. That seems a little much for me, but to each their own. We had a few nights of great entertainment, we never ate until we were sick, and never slept in.
I am grateful for the opportunity to go and be with Kim, to not worry about home and work and everyday things and just be together, but I was also glad to get home to my kids and baby.So Happy Sailing for the next time.


.