Christine's Surgery

Just so you know...

Christine had her surgery yesterday.  It went well.  She has been in Timpanogos Regional Hospital.  We stayed the night last night with her.  There were a few rough times, but she is doing better and we brought her home to the cabin this afternoon.  She is still bandaged from the top of her head to under her chin, but that will come off by the end of the week.

I am tired and have a horrible headache.  Now we are on to recovery stage.

More later....Thanks for all your thoughts and especially prayers.  We have felt them!

Seven Peaks and Pre-Hosp Things

We decided last night that we would let ourselves sleep in since it might be the last time we have that luxury for a while.  Maybe not.  We just don't know what to expect. 

We went down to Orem to do the pre-check in at the hospital and get her pre-op labs done and settle up with the financial department.  It is a very nice hospital.  New.  I feel good about it.  We let her pick where she wanted to eat for lunch.  She couldn't decide between Der Wienerschnitzel or In-N-Out.  She decided on the burger.

It was Lyndsey's 18th birthday today.  She was having her party at Seven Peaks water park in Provo.
We took Chris over to meet them there, and when she put her swim suit on, it had yellow stains all over it.  Who knows where those came from.  But you can't really wear a white suit with red and black polka-dots on it with yellow stains in certain places.  We hurried to Kmart.  Nothing.  Then we realized the Provo Mall was just across the street.  YES! 

JCPenney was our best friend.  All the suits were on sale and we snapped one up.  She changed in the car and by the time we got back to the park the group was there.  Perfect timing.

Costco was our next errand.  The cabin was in desperate need of paper goods.  It's the best place to get toilet paper, paper towels, and tissue for the amount we need.  We stocked up on some liquid items for Christine.  We sampled them and liked them, so I hope she will too.

I put a roast chicken in the oven.  Chris requested that for her last solid food meal for a while.  The storm hit hard and put an end to the water park festivities.  They had several good hours there, came back and had cake and ice cream and hung out at Timp Haven and Scrappy's.

Scrappy's is a new place here in town on Main.  It was closed down for a few years due to some family burdens the owners were going through.  It reopened this summer and is NEVER empty.  The food is pretty good and the shakes are great.  I'm still partial to Dairy Keen shakes, but these will do in a pinch.

The group came up to watch movies down in the game room and wish Christine well.  She got in the shower and had me braid her hair. 

Tomorrow will be here soon.  We have to be up at 4:30am and at the hospital by 5:30am.

To Utah

We drove the drive today.  Good weather.  We seemed to have a calmness about us on the way.  Sometimes you know how you have a feeling of hurrying to just get to your destination?  It didn't feel that way today.

All is good here in Midway except the garage stinks.  We forgot and left some trash the last time.  Because of where the cabin is there is no door to door trash pickup.  We have to take it down to the dumpsters at the entrance to Interlaken.

Countdown to Surgery

Adrianne very kindly traded laundry days with me so I could wash today and not leave anything dirty pin the hampers.  I went to a bridal shower for Lacie G. this morning.  It was nice.  She got good things to start their life with.  She is a cute one.  The brunch was delicious and beautifully laid out.

Christine's friends have been coming by today (and earlier in the week also) bringing her surgery care kits.  Things to occupy her time in the days and weeks after her operation.  She has been out everyday and night getting in lots of sociality before we get into the next month! 

She seems to be strong and ready for this and I seem to be getting more nervous and anxious.  My stomach isn't quite right and I have headaches.  I know it is all stress and I'm working really hard at not letting her see it.  My main worries are vomiting and being able to feed her adequately.  The doctor told us she will lose a lot of weight and I have to monitor that.  She doesn't have a lot to lose in the first place.

Will I be able to use the oral feeding catheter the right way?  Will I be able to make things that she can tolerate? like? be able to be healthy enough yet thin enough to go through the tube?  And just how does one 'be sick' when your mouth is wired together?

Duff and the boys gave her a blessing tonight.  I will have Duff give me one when we get to Utah.  I've been praying about it and don't get long-lasting relief from my worries.  As I've been pondering about that I've wondered if this will be one of those situations that I need to help me increase my faith.  Usually these things don't bother me, but for some reason it really is this time.

We are all packed.  The car is ready to go.  I've carefully put books and craft projects together to do in the next weeks while I sit and tend to her.  I feel good about leaving home in the capable hands of the older kids.  Not only are they able to take care of things, but will learn a lot doing it too.

Friday's One-Two-Three

I'm just about ready to leave again.

My companion is finishing our visiting teaching for me.

I got pretty much everything done I wanted to at home except for catching up on my ironing.  I haven't ironed since November of last year.  Tablecloths, linens, etc.  Oh well.  It will still be there when I get back, right?

Diana and I went to do some welcome visits for Activity Days.

We have 4 new girls.  Three just turned 8, and one just moved in.  They are completely darling and precious.  Diana got their binders put together.  She does the front cover and the insides (she is much better on a computer than I am) and I do the spine.  I welcome them and introduce the Faith In God program to the girl and her parents (mostly moms).  Diana introduces them to and explains all about Activity Days.  We work well together and balance each other nicely.  I like when that happens.

 I dropped Diana off at home and drove over to Lowes.

I needed fertilizer for the garden.  I have found that the Miracle-Gro Tomato fertilizer works the best for our garden.  The plants are green and lush and produce better.  I need to have Adrianne do that while I am gone this time.  I let it go last trip and you could tell.  As soon as I fertilized the plants were back to their bushy selves in two days.  I also got some more cilantro and flat-leaf parsley plants since we have already used those up this season.

While I was there, I got this very large tote.

I've been packing up the rest of Natalie's things from her room since she got married 3 years ago.  Lots of her literature books, yearbooks, briefcase, and some holiday decorations she had stashed in different drawers and closet.  We will take and store it at the cabin.  I'm going to move my fabric and craft things in her closets and get them out of the garage.

Today We:

Today:

--Christine and I both got our haircuts before we leave for Utah.  She will fresh and trimmed up while recovering.  I won't feel like I have a mop.

--Christine had her teeth cleaned prior to her surgery since she'll have to wait several months after surgery.

--Tonight was the annual Stake High Priests meeting.  It was good.  I really didn't want to go.  It's the anxiety thing going on with me right now, but I'm glad I did, because the messages were what I needed to hear and I got to visit with some great women after.  I made him promise me we would leave right after, but he wanted a piece of pie and ice cream.  In the end, he was the one telling me it was time to go.

--Harry Potter comes out at midnight.  Christine met up with her friends and camped out for it.  The last HPotter movie.  The end of an era!

--Shaun's job is going good.  It's nice to see him at this place.

Garden Tips I'm Learning This Year

I worked in the garden most of the day today.  Some things needed to be cut back.  Mostly the herbs.  I've found this year that if I trim the basil kind of like I deadhead the rose bushes, it continues to grow back.  I washed all that I cut, layed it out to dry and then put it in small quantities in little ziploc bags with a bit of air in them.  After they freeze, I crush them gently with my fist and then I have fresh basil whenever I need it during the winter.  Linda taught me that and it really works! 

I have also been putting tomato paste into ice cube trays or in individual mounds and freeze them, then put them in small freezer bags.  When I need a tablespoon or two, I just grab one and it works wonderfully instead of having to open a can each time or buy the paste in the tube (which I really like to do, but it is expensive).

The rosemary is growing like crazy.  It is almost to the point where I can trim it into the large cone shape I have been training it into.  I put an upside down tomato cage in a clay pot with the same diameter with the rosemary planted in it.  I learned that the more you trim the ends, the more bushy it grows and then all you need to do is trim it to the shape you desire.

Christine and Adrianne have YW tonight.  It is the combined activity and the boys are in charge.  They are playing dodgeball.  Sigh.  The girls don't like that.  They boys and their leaders have promised that it will be fun this time!

Last Ortho Before Surgery

Chris went to the orthodontist for her last visit in preparation for her surgery.  Dr. Nicholls was down last weekend and met with Dr. Yousif on Friday.  They are both on the same page with her surgery and follow up treatment.

I am getting increasingly anxious.  I can't explain it.  4 of our 5 children have had surgery for one thing or another.  But I am just really nervous for this one.  I think I need a blessing.  I'm finding myself a little short tempered and controlling about cleaning the house and getting everything in order before I leave this weekend.  I know those things are necessary, but I'm masking my anxiety with them and making them more than they are.

My visiting teachers came by tonight.  I needed that.  They gave a good message and encouraged me.  They are really good visiting teachers.  I am grateful for them.

How To Write A Note of Appreciation--Activity Day

We are holding Activity Days in the mornings during the summer months.

It makes it easier on the families.  We can still be consistent in meeting and they still have their day ahead of them without getting interupted.

Our gathering activity was to build this giant tower with these building blocks (kind of like Jenga blocks) as high as they could working together and taking turns.  As soon as we took the picture to document their success, they could knock it down.  Haha! Look at those feet poised and ready to go.  Then we timed them to see how fast they could pick it up and put it all away.

 Today we talked about who we respect and admire and why those qualities help make our lives happy and good.

We learned how to write a note of appreciation to them.

The girls wrote a rough draft first on lined paper.  Diana and I edited them, and then they got to choose a note card to write the letter they were going to send.  Some girls wrote to a friend.  Some to a teacher;  some to their grandparents; and some to a sibling.

They learned how to address an envelope and where to place the stamp.

They took them home to put in the mail box.

Dani brought some yummy cupcakes.

It was a GREAT activity!

Loads of Towels

Even though we brought home all clean clothes, there were some in the hampers from before we left.  And all the miscellaneous laundry while we were gone.

I ended up doing SEVEN loads of towels today. 

Pool towels, kitchen towels, bathroom towels.  Where in the world did they all come from???

I just crossed off every other thing on my to do list and realized it was just going to be a laundry day.

There is something satisfying about having it all done, though.

Getting Together For Josh's Bday

Church was good.  Nice to be back.  We had a good lesson in RS on Obedience.

The kids were here for Josh's Bday dinner and our monthly FHE.  We had round steak with mushroom gravy, and potatoes, with vegetables.  And we had strawberry shortcake for his bday cake.

Gidget is getting better.  Only a little 'naughty' today.  She has that puppy energy.  She goes and goes and goes and then conks out.  Everyone is tired.  It's been a long week for all of us.

Interstate 15

We drove home today.  We left around 7am.  This means we will get home in plenty of time for Christine to get showered and ready to go to the Stake Dance.  Some things are very important, you know!

It was uneventful and seemed to go by quickly.  Of course, I slept for a few hours early on, and I'm sure that made it feel shorter.  I made a lot of progress on the cross-stitching I'm working on.

All at home was good.  Josh and Mere and Gidge came over.  Mere went with me to the market at 9 o'clock at night.  I was so grateful for the company.  I was tired.  We got everything for Josh's birthday dinner tomorrow.  Poor thing.  She will probably spend most of her time on the couch instead of in the kitchen.

Corn Wagon Quilt Company----> Deer Creek

This is the Corn Wagon Quilt shop.

It is in Springville, Utah.

I have heard a lot about it and this was my first opportunity to go to it.

Duff and Christine were gracious enough to go there after we picked Chris up from lax camp.  I know she was anxious to get home and shower, and I appreciate them being good sports to go with me.

They stayed in the car and napped with all the windows open under the shade of a big tree, and I ventured in.  I wanted to get some baby receiving blanket kits.  I usually get them or order them from another company and I wanted to see what CWQuilts had. 

When I first walked in it was kind of like the first time I ever walked into TaiPan.  I just had to stand there for a minute and take it all in.  A little overwhelming.  But a good overwhelming.  ONE day, it is my dream to get into quilting.  (right now I just feel like I have too many other big unfinished projects to get done.  Like some family history stuff nagging at me....)

They had the nicest staff.  Walked me to just what I was there for and answered all my questions.  It was really fun to think of all the possiblilites!

After I selected my purchases, I walked through the whole store.  My problem is I want one of everything!  It just speaks to me.  I got lots of great ideas logged away!

On our way home, Christine got a text from Taylor and they were at the beach at Deer Creek.  We drove as fast as we dared and met up with Jennifer and Taylor and Jonah, and Leslie and Attysen.  That was a fun surprise!  Didn't know Leslie was down from Idaho.  By this time it was early evening and the temps had cooled off.  We had a quick but good visit under the trees.  The kids got to catch up, which was good.  Taylor has just finished his last chemo treatment and is getting ready for radiation.  His doctors are very encouraged for a positive outcome at the end of August when it is done.  What a blessing because at the beginning of the year things did not look like they would end well with this nasty cancer.

We headed off to start cleaning so we can leave in the morning and they headed home.  Leslie was going back to Idaho tomorrow also.



BYU Lacrosse Camp 2011

 Christine and her roommate from Washington state, Rilee.  She plays mid-field.

 With Couch Dix Barnes.

Christine and BYU Women's Lacrosse goalie, Gretchen Schwartz.

Christine received the Heart of the Team award this year.  Every camp team wanted her to play goalie for them. 

Interesting thing: when we picked her up, the camp coach talked to Duff and I about her.  He told us he has never seen someone at her age play at her level in her position.  He said her attitude and abilities are above and beyond. He put his camp assistants from the women's team on goal against her and told them to have at it.  She blocked at least 50% of the shots.  He wanted to know if she had any interest in playing for BYU during college????!!!!

WHAT?

Well, YEAH!!!

This is in no way any announcement, but it sure made her and us pretty dang excited.  Gretchen told her all camp long that she could easily play for the Y and hoped she would make that her goal.

She had a good experience and learned a lot.  She was grateful the weather was more tolerable than last year.

Birthday Greetings For Joshua

to JOSH!

Have the best day ever! Wish we were there.  We'll be home tomorrow and we can celebrate on Sunday.

Love,

Mom, Dad, and Christine

xoxo

Sundance Dinner

David went fishing early this morning again.  He is determined to catch something.  He has a good sense of humor about getting skunked!

He and Linda wanted to take us to dinner at Sundance tonight.

It was a beautiful evening.

Sundance was cool and peaceful.  And so GREEN.  Almost like we were in another world. We walked around for almost an hour just taking in the beauty. The skies threatened and decided to open once we were safely inside enjoying our dinner.

 We have never seen the water this high and this fast.

On the road up to Sundance, there are some places where the river has eroded the bank clear to the asphalt.  Trees and bushes have fallen over.

 The predominant color--other than green--seemed to be all sorts of purples.

 Linda and David.

 This part of the river had wreaked some damage.  It took out the entire asphalt walkway/path to the right.  Lots of sandbags to prevent more and keep the water where it needs to be.  In most parts, the river was all the way up to the under side of the bridges.  I had sandals on and you could feel the wet cold on your toes and feet.  As it would hit the bridge it would spray up and over it!

It is just craziness to see so much snow on the mountains at this time of year!

Everything sure looks different without snow all over it.

Sundance is where I learned to snow ski.  I took it for my PE class requirements when I was in college.  One of the best things I ever did!

After we walked around outside, we took about another hour and toured everything there was to see and read inside.  There is a gallery of large pictures all about the beginnings of Sundance.  It was once TimpHaven.  Then Robert Redford bought it for his family and ended up repurposing many of the acres for the arts and skiing.  I didn't know that out of the thousands and thousands of acres that make up Sundance, only 450 are developed.  I also learned that quite a bit of the filming of Jeremiah Johnson (which is one of my favorite movies!) were done at Sundance up at the Stewart Falls area.  Stewart Falls has special memories for Meredith because she hiked there almost every summer growing up when her family would go to Aspen Grove.  She and Josh did some courting up there too!

We ate at the Foundry Grill.

They had the most tasty bread!  A whole grain something or other.

David and I each had a salad.  Mine was the cutest little baby head of iceberg lettuce.  They cut a tiny slice from the bottom so it would sit flat.  Then cut a tiny slice off the top and flared it out some and filled it with small diced tomatoes and crumbled bacon drizzed with bleu cheese dressing.  I like bleu cheese dressing, but my family doesn't so I only get to have it when I'm out.  It would have been good with Ranch though too.

Duff had a black bean and chorizo soup and Linda had some tortilla soup.  Goodness!  Their 'cup' of soup was more like a meal!

I had the halibut with crab and corn risotto and fresh local vegetables.  I thought I was in heaven!  Linda had a margherita pizza, Duff had the strip steak, and David had the halibut also.  No room for dessert after that!

We walked around some more after dinner and then made our way home.  Tonight was one of those rare occasions when we weren't in any kind of a hurry.  You know:  hurry to get there, hurry to get through it all, hurry to eat so you can get back, etc.  We had all the time in the world with nothing pressing and I haven't enjoyed a dinner out like that in a long time.

We did go to the Dairy Keen in Heber on our way home and ordered SMALL shakes as some dessert.  They are having 'christmas in July' and I so enjoyed my Pumpkin Pie with ginger snap bits and whipped cream shake.

Ahhh.

The Pool Filter Blew Up

The pool filter on Lisa and Craig's pool blew up.  There was water everywhere and of course it is the middle of summer in Arizona and the pool is getting nasty without it working.  My dad has been going over everyday and putting chemicals in it so it won't turn completely green.  There was a huge dust storm (I think they call it a haboob) that came through and now there is quite a bit of dirt and mud adding to the issue.

Lisa and Craig decided to leave a day early to get home and get it taken care of.  It needs to be completely replaced.  The filter is 20 years old so it was on it's last legs anyway.

We heard from Chris at lax camp.  She is having a really good time.  She is getting great feedback and they have been giving her some special attention being in the goalie position.  The goalie from the BYU women's team is there and has taken her under her wing for the entire camp!  All the age group teams request her to be their goalie for their games.

You go, Chrissy girl!

Not Guilty?

Duff and Craig took Christine down to Provo for Lacrosse Camp.  She is excited.   Lisa went down to The Barn and The Store.  I cross-stitched and Linda and David left for the day to go to Salt Lake.

Lisa and I watched the Casey Anthony verdict.  I have not followed this at all.  Lisa has been way into it.  I have to say though, I was pretty surprised at the outcome. She is accused of killing her 3 year old daughter.  I think the state presented a better case than the defense, but the jury reached the decision they did.  I've never been on a jury.  Always had kids at home so far.  Adrianne just served on a jury.  I wonder what it would be like.  I wonder what being on this jury would have been like.  From the evidence I've seen and heard about on television, it seems like she was guilty or at the very least a negligent mother.  The whole family dynamice seems so sadly dysfunctional. 

Lisa has been glued to the tv.  Everyone seems very upset about it.

Tonight was probably one of the worst summer monsoon storms I have ever been in or seen.  The wind, rain, lightening, and thunder was insane.  A little scary.  It sure cooled things down.  The power went out a few times.  The backup generator came on.  It went on and on.  Lasted for a long time.  Fun and festive feeling.  Christine was at the outdoor dance down on campus and said it was a lot of fun!

4th OF JULY, 2011

Happy 4th of July!

Our day was low-key but special.

I love the 4th.

I get so emotional about our country.  Like yesterday in church.

We stood to sing the Star Spangled Banner for the closing hymn.

I had a hard time singing after the first stanza.  I looked over and Lisa was crying too.  What a bunch of boobs we are.  For me, I can't help but think of my German grandparents leaving behind everything they knew to come to the land of Freedom and the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  They were 16 years old.  I could never have done that when I was that age.  They did it for their posterity.  That's me.  That's my children.  My grandchildren and so on down the line.  I think about how much they loved us to do that before we were even born.  They had an eternal perspective.

Then I think about all the wars fought and still going on to gain and protect our freedom.

 James Bond Marathon.

Enough said.

 David at the grill.

(We divided up the evening meals and each took our turn.  Tonight was theirs.)

 Linda and Christine getting the buffet set up.

 Razzleberry pie in the new cake pedestal.

 Burgers.

 Brats.

...and MORE nertz!

Chris and her friends watched the fireworks from Memorial Hill at Lindsey's since she lives right at the base of it.  We adults watched them from the back deck.  There were about 5-6 different shows going on all the was to Deer Creek.  It was beautiful.  It was raining and when the lightening got too close for comfort, we came back in!  I've never done that before.  Watch 4th of July fireworks in a summer rainstorm.

Kinda cool.

Nertz and Roast

Church was nice today.  Being a holiday weekend there were a LOT of out of towners, us included.  The entire cultural hall was filled to the stage and then they were sitting on the stage too.

We had decided to make a roast beef dinner.

Christine has been wanting to learn more and more in the kitchen.  She took over the kitchen with a little guidance from me.  Her roast and gravy were delicious.  She continues to become a great cook.

We have been playing Nertz. Nertz. And more Nertz.  Lisa and Linda are picking it up quickly.  Linda says she hasn't laughed this hard in 20 years.

In between we've played Clue, but always back to the Nertz.

I have never been a good card shuffler.  I've been practicing and everyone is giving me tips.

I'm improving.

David and Craig went fishing this morning and got skunked.  The river is so high and so fast.  They'll try again tomorrow.  We gals are not doing much of anything.  Sometimes we stay in our pj's for much too long, but I think that's okay when you are on vacation and relaxing.

Bring On The 4th!

We went in all different directions today.

I stayed home to change sheets on beds and clean bathrooms and things like that, while Duff went to pick up Christine from the airport.  They went to Saratoga Springs for her last pre-op appointment with Dr. Nicholls, only. to find that they went to the wrong office and had to go to the Orem office instead.  Then up to Tribal Lacrosse to get her new goalie bag for lacrosse camp at the Y next week.  It is a much smaller bag and easier to handle and still holds all the goalie gear.  They stopped to see the little cousins at Jan's before heading back up.

Our company got here safe and sound.  Lisa and Craig came for the 4th of July holiday.  Linda, and her husband David, followed them.  She is reconnecting with her uncles since her mother has passed away.  It has been many years and she is nervous. 

We are ready for the holiday and camp.  And we may do all of the things on the 'list' or none of them.  We'll see what each day brings.