2/24/12 - Drew's Mask

We took Drew to the Doctor today because he was having a hard time breathing last night.  They think he may have some allergy induced asthma, and we also found out he was positive for Strep.  They sent us home with antibiotics and this mask and inhaler.  DREW LOVES HIS MASK!  He thinks he's so cool using this funny looking thing :)

2/23/12 - FHE Boards for Activity Girls

I was my turn to do Activity Days for the 8-11 year old girls this week.  I made a FHE lesson for each of them and taught them how to teach it to their families.  I also made them each a FHE board to take home.  They were each able to paint the tags and write the names of everyone in their family on them.  They also got to choose which color ribbon they wanted to tie on the top.  It was a fun activity.



2/22/12 - Arthrogram MRI & Results

I went in to get my Arthrogram Shoulder MRI yesterday (2-21-12).  The Arthrogram part was very unpleasant.  First, I got stuck with a big needle in my shoulder to numb it.  Next, they take a Giant needle and push it 2 inches into your shoulder joint.  I was unprepared for the way the needle would feel as the Dr. pushed it in and I really jumped.  Then he attached some tubing to the needle and injected a large syringe full of a special kind of dye that shows up well during an MRI.  The shoulder joint has a lot of pressure and the liquid does not go in easily.  It is pushed in a little at a time and it feels like your shoulder joint is a balloon that someone is blowing up.  Lots of pressure!  This part was not fun.



Then it was off to the MRI machine.  Lots of people hate this machine.  Not me.  The noises and the movement of the machine was enough to put me to sleep like a baby.  When it was over....I asked if they could put me back in. :)
  





This is an MRI of the shoulder with the dye inside.  It really helps doctors locate tears and problems inside the shoulder much better then a regular MRI.





I went back to my Orthopedic Surgeon today to get the results of my MRI.  I have a few Labral tears and I will need Labral Repair/Reconstruction and all my ligaments will need to be tightened.  The tears allow the ball of my shoulder to move around and slip out of the socket.  In response, my Rotator Cuff is holding on to my arm for dear life to avoid complete dislocation.  All of that is casuing the unending and increasing pain I have been experiencing for the last 20 years, with the last few years being very intense.
  
This pain has prevented me from doing many things the past few years.  Simple things are very painful like pulling my covers up at night, getting dressed, etc.  Many exercises are impossible, but even jogging is painful.  It feels like my shoulder is slipping out of the socket ALL THE TIME.  I was reaching my breaking point and that is what lead me to the Dr's office and I am glad I won't have to deal with this pain for the rest of my life.
 
I will be going in for the surgery on March 15th.  After the surgery I will not be able to feel my shoulder because of a pain blocking medication that will wear off in 12-24 hours after surgery.  I will have to stay in the bandages and shoulder sling for 2 days until I go back to the Dr to have them removed.  Then I will wear the sling for the next 4 weeks, moving my hand and occasionally my elbow ONLY.  Every following month I will be given a little more rotation and freedom for my shoulder until 5 months post-op.  A full recovery is expected in 6-12 months.  I will be able to play basketball and throw a football again without pain.  It kind of makes me sad I waited so long to have this done.  But, I don't see how I could have been without the use of my arm while having babies and dealing with a young child with a disability.
 
I am excited and terrified.  It is going to be a long and painful rehabilitation period, but the result will hopefully be worth all the pain.  I'm crossing my fingers. :)

2/19/12 - Little Lady

When Nick and I went out for our anniversary, we decided to go shopping to find Kennedy some new church outfits.  She has really grown this year and has almost nothing appropriate to wear to church anymore.  This is Kennedy all dressed up for church in one of the new outfits we picked out for her.  She is really growing up :(

2/17/12 - Shoulder Pain (part1)

I have suffered with shoulder pain ever since receiving a pretty bad rotator cuff injury in high school (which basically ended my ability to continue playing high school sports).  The pain intensified about 6 years ago.  I have been avoiding this visit to the doctor because I have been pretty positive that this type of pain could only be helped by surgery.  It appears that I was right.
 
My x-rays today showed calcification on one of the bones in my shoulder.  He said that I was WAY TOO YOUNG to have this condition in my shoulder, but that it is not uncommon with people suffering a major shoulder injury earlier in life.  Lucky me.
 
So, I have to submit myself to a very unpleasant procedure in order to get a better picture of what is causing all the pain.  My orthopedic surgeon suspects I have ligament damage as well so I have to get an Arthrogram MRI of my shoulder on Tuesday and then follow up with him on Wednesday.  Before the MRI, I have to have dye injected into the ligaments in my shoulder.  REALLY?!?!  I don't like big needles, and the thought of something being stuck into an already very tender area, who knows how many times......I can't even think about it.
 
I was always worried that the cure might be more painful then the problem.  I won't know the answer to that until it's done.  If I can just get through all this - I would love to start living life without this constant pain.  If I can get to the point where I can work out properly again I will be grateful.  I can't even jog right now without my shoulder getting jerked around.  I have also developed severe pain in my elbow (Tennis Elbow) as a result of me overcompensating for my shoulder pain.  It's time to buck up and get this done :)

2/14/12 - Heart Attack

After getting the kids ready for school, Nick asked who put the hearts on our front door.  We all filed outside and starred at our front door which had been covered in hearts.

GRANDMA SUE GAVE US A HEART ATTACK!! 

She wrote special little notes to all of us on each heart.  This is what the hearts said.

   

Nick's Hearts said:

"You're a great provider for your family.  You went to school while working and raising a family.....so proud of you.  You are awesome!"

"You are an amazing father - your children know that you love them."

"You have made my life less complicated by being there when I needed help.  I wish I had someone like you to be with for an eternity."

Holly's Hearts said:

"You have a home your husband wants to come home to."

"You're a great example of a Daughter of our Heavenly Father to your own daughter, her friends, your friends, and me."

"Your musical talents are amazing and you are so creative."

Kennedy's Hearts said:

"Smart!  Funny!  Great imagination!  Swimmer!  Artist!  Musical!  I'm so proud of you Kennedy!"

"You're a great friend."

"You're such a good example of a Daughter of our Heavenly Father."

Carter's Hearts said:

"Your Justin Beiber imitation is awesome!  Rock-n-Roll!"

"Nobody does puzzles as fast as you do!"

"You're an awesome baseball player Carter, keep it up!"

Andrew's Hearts said:

"You're the best "Lil' Elvis" I know" (he sings while listening to Elvis songs)

"Where do you get all your energy?  You make me laugh"

"I love your laugh!"

  

What a fun idea, and everyone loved it.  Grandma Sue makes us feel so special. 

2/13/12 - The Phase of Torture

Drew is driving us crazy.  He gets himself into so much trouble.....every minute.  Today he got two pictures off the wall and covered them in fingernail polish, got my hair cutting scissors out of the bathroom and cut up his sea turtle stuffed animal named "Dude,"  he colored his hands and feet black with markers and then colored a big spot in the piano room with orange marker, and to top it all off, he pooped and peed in my closet (which he has never done before).  He is so naughty.

I have always had a hard time with kids this age, they are too curious and as a result they seem to be very destructive as well.  I put things away, but lately he has discovered all my hiding places and can climb up and access almost anything he wants.  Then, he finds a hiding place to carry out his evil destructive plot. 

I can't wait for this phase to pass.....I hope I will live through it :)

2/12/12 - 18th Anniversary

18 years ago we were very young (19 & 21), but we absolutely knew we wanted to spend the rest of our lives together. 

We spent a lovely day together for our 18th Anniversary.  It was peaceful, magical, relaxing, and so nice to have quiet moments together.  I didn't want to come back home to the noise :)

I love you, Nick!!

2/11/12 - Movie Night

Kennedy and I went to see a movie together (The Vow) and when we got into the theater.....it was filled with Storm Troopers.  Kennedy was so excited!  So, we let a few of them arrest her and got some fun pictures.

2/10/12 - Oh, Carter

This is Carter's Developmental Class.  All these kids have different special needs.  They all did a great job holding still and listening to directions to take their class picture.....except that kid in the red shirt :)  The one with his shoulders nearly touching his ears.  That's my kid.  Typical Carter :) 

2/9/12 - Activity Days Valentine Cookies

Our Activity Days girls got to decorate giant heart cookies.  They were very creative and I took pictures of a few.  We talked about Charity and the pure love of Christ and played a jeopardy game as well.  These girls are so much fun!

2/8/15 - Storytime

For our preschool activity today, I decided to take Drew to the Barbara Bush Library for their Preschool Storytime.  The lady read a few Valentine's books to the kids and sang a few songs with them.  Then they got to make special Valentine's cards for someone special.  Andrew made a Valentine for his Dad.

HE LOVED IT!!

Storytime at the library is now on our weekly schedule.  It will be so good for him.

After storytime, I let Drew pick out some books to take home.  He was so excited he kind of started climbing on things and getting a little crazy.  We hurried to check out our books and go home.  I think it will take a few trips to the library to learn the proper quiet etiquette.  He did pretty good for his first time ever (isn't that sad) at the library.

2/7/12 - New Beginnings

Last night the Young Woman in our ward held their New Beginnings program and Kennedy was invited because she will be entering the Young Woman's Program in June.  It was a great night and the Young Woman and the leaders made Kennedy feel so comfortable and special.  She is so excited to enter the Young Woman's program.

I am excited for her.  She even gets to go to girl's camp this June.

    

I loved being in the Young Woman's program as a youth.  I was very involved and earned all my medallions and received my Young Womanhood Recognition Award (necklace) before I graduated from high school.  I have so many good memories from this period in my life.

These pictures were taken at one of the Laurel - Priest Activities at Lava Hot Springs in Idaho in 1991.  We had so much fun going down the river on inner tubes, swimming and going down waterslides, staying in cabins, catching tons of frogs, and going fishing.  They tried to have us girls clean the fish and I remember all of us gagging and screaming at the blood and guts.  Ha ha.

One of my best friends (Linda) and I were a handful for our leaders.  We were loud and crazy and liked to make jokes out of everything....but they loved us anyway.  My all time favorite leader in the Young Woman's Program while growing up was our Young Woman President, Julie Johnson.  We gave her such a hard time.  She was soooo funny and did the most hilarious things (lots of them while driving).  I remember her backing into and running over a mailbox once.  Another time she ran over a hug plastic planter box at the gas station and it got caught underneath the van.  She had to back up and pull forward over and over to try to get it unstuck all while we were out there pulling on it.  Another time, she was taking us home from girl's camp.  She had her foot on the brake all the way down the mountain, and before we got to the freeway, you could smell the brakes burning.  She completely ruined her brakes and they almost completely stopped working before we got home.  We were always laughing at Julie and she just laughed right along with us.....she made us feel loved and she was a joy to be around.  I will always love her.  We have kept in touch and still write letters back and forth.  She had a very positive impact on my life while I was going through some very hard times as a teenager.

I know Kennedy will have similar experiences in this program.  It will help shape her into the kind of woman God wants her to be.  It is so inspired and valuable.  I am jealous of all the fun she will be having, but so thankful for all the spiritual influences she will be surrounded by.

2/7/12 - Preschool

I decided to set aside a portion of each morning to do preschool activities with Drew.  He loves the attention and I think it will be good for both of us. 

And yes.....his fingernails are painted a beautiful shade of purple.  He did it himself.  :)

2/4/12 - Mall Run

These girls think any day is a good day for a trip to the mall.  I took Kennedy and part of her crew to the mall in the afternoon.  Question.  Have you ever followed 11 and 12 year old girls around the mall for a few hours?  It's very insightful.  You learn a lot about the things they like and dislike.  Very informative.....and exhausting.  When I go to the mall I usually have a purpose.  I know what I want and I am in and out.  Shopping with these girls is the opposite of that, but still fun and I love to see them having a good time and happy.

2/4/12 - Prompting

I went grocery shopping early this morning and the rain was pouring down. On my way home, I was traveling on this busy road (and was about 200 yards from the road that turns into our neighborhood), when I saw a huge five gallon bucket in one of the other lanes. I turned into our neighborhood and started down the road when I immediately had a very hot feeling come over my body. GO MOVE THAT BUCKET! That was the bold phrase that forcefully entered my mind.
It was powerful.  Immediate.  Unmistakable. 

I was waiting for the traffic light to turn green so I could turn back onto the road and remove the hazard.  I was watching as a group of cars was approaching the bucket.   I saw cars suddenly swerving into other lanes- without much time to react, each following car was in a more dangerous position on this slick road. I held my breath as the group of cars finally made it past the bucket, barely escaping without a major accident.   At last, my light turned green and I quickly drove towards the bucket as another big group of cars was approaching. I parked my car in the turn lane and ran to pick up and move the heavy bucket out of the road.

I got the bucket safely to the side of the road.

My heart was racing....not so much because of the danger it created, but because I have never had such a powerful and urgent prompting in my life.

I have definately had feelings and what I would classify as "whisperings" before....nothing this urgent.

When I got home I immediately shared the experience with Nick and the kids (with tear filled eyes of course).

I will never know what kind of accident might have been prevented by the removal of that bucket. It is a reminder to me about how the Lord works through us to answer the prayers of others. His tender mercies and love for us never end.

I went back later to take these pictures of the bucket and the road to help me remember this experience.

2/3/12 - Two at the Zoo

We went on a quick trip to the zoo with Michelle and Drew's little "girlfriend" - Sophie.  It was kind of a rainy day so we didn't stay long.  Our favorite thing at the zoo this time were the fun drums in the African Safari area.