Monday, April 12, 2010

One year anniversary

It was one year yesterday since my car accident. I think I should magically be ok now. No more residual problems (especially the craziness when I am riding in a car). I thank the Lord all of the time that he allowed me to live and enjoy my family and life this past year. We definitely have had some challenges but I can't imagine not being able to be with my family.
Meg is waiting for our Monday night show. We have all gotten hooked on "24". I know that is not the ideal family home evening activity but at least we are pretty much together. She hung out with Ali and the kids today while I was at work. Ali is so great to come in and spend Monday with Meg. I think that has helped Meg mentally more than anything.
Sammie is never with us because she works on Monday nights. She loves her job and is doing great in hair school. We are so hoping for scholarships for her so she can continue school through the summer and finish that part so she can move on. She is thinking at this point (things change continually) of going to Weber State College to get her bachellors degree.
Kaysha decided not to do dance company next year at Murray. Instead she decided to try out for cheer. She made the varsity team and is so excited. The advisor of the dance team told her she wished she could do both because she is such a beautiful dancer. It really is nice to have such talented kids. I think my kids are doing all of the things I would have liked to have done but was either too dumb, too broke or too scared to try for.
Colby continues to plug along at his consulting business. We keep praying that things will happen as they are supposed to and that we will have an income again. I am sure we will. We have always been taken care of and none of us are going hungry and we are able to meet all of our obligations. It always amazes me that when you put a budget on paper and can't imagine how it will work, as long as the tithing is paid somehow the miracles happen.
I had a shower for one of the girls in my ward on Saturday. I need to have more things like that so I can have an excuse to clean my house. I am easily distracted. It was a good turnout and it makes me happy to do things like that.
Colby had his birthday a couple of weeks ago. After racking my brain to come up with something fun to do for this birthday, I decided to call his friend from high school. We haven't seen Kevin and his wife Gerri for at least 15 years. Colby and Kevin used to get together to jam. I have Kevin and Gerri meet us at Texas Road House for dinner and told Kevin to bring his guitar. We came to our house after dinner and Kevin and Colby had a chance to play for a while. I made pies for dessert. We had a great time and had a lot of laughs and a change to reminisce.

Easter was fun. I loved it being on General Conference. I love General Conference. I even stayed awake through all of the Sunday meetings this year. My dad came out in the morning and had breakfast with us and we watched the morning session and after the afternoon session, the kids all came and we had dinner and an Easter Egg hunt. I'll need to add pictures when I figure that part out. I was so grateful to be here for that this year.

Tuesday, March 30, 2010

March 30, 2010
Five months since I last posted. WOW!! I can't believe how quickly time passes. Other than tiring out more easily and having arthritis in my neck from my injuries, I am doing great. I still don't care much to get in the car whether it be me driving or someone else driving.
Meg and I went on a business trip with Colby to Phoenix in October. We drove and for the most part I really enjoyed the drive. We stayed in a beautiful hotel and had a wonderful time.
I flew out to see Haley the first of November and drove with her and the kids to Richmond, Virginia while she ran the Richmond marathon. She did so well. I watched the kids while she ran. While she was in the race, I tried to find a place to take the kids to get something to eat. We walked forever and finally found a place about 1/2 block away from the hotel. We hurried and ate and made it back with our sign and clappers to watch Haley run through the finish line. She said it would be at least 4 hours and I knew the kids wouldn't last too long a time at the finish line. We waited and waited and finally got a telephone call from Haley saying she was in the hotel room. After all of that, we missed it. Her time was so good she made it in less than 4 hours. It was great to be with her and the kids.
Sam is finishing her hair school. She is getting really good and I have been surprised at how much she loves what she is doing. She is also working and keeping very busy.
Kay is busy also in school. With the economy the way it is, she has not had many hours to work but she is still on the schedule. Hopefully things will pick up.
Meg is happy. That makes us all happy. We have learned that the key to keeping her happy is just having something for her to look forward to each day. Seems easy enough, huh?
In November, just before Thanksgiving Colby was laid off of his job. Have I said that 2009 was not our finest year? It has been four months now. He would like to start his own consulting business and has been working towards that. He also applies for jobs when he sees something that sounds like it might work. We just continue to pray and know that when the time is right, something will happen. But in the meantime, we truly are in the Lord's hands. I am grateful that I have a job and it has insurance benefits. Being part time,the benefits are very expensive but at least we have them. Christmas was great because all of the family was here. Haley and her family were able to come.
We continue to plug along like everyone else. Luckily, we love each other. I am so grateful for the love of family.

Friday, September 4, 2009

catch up

It has been a very long time since a post has been made. The summer is really over. Sammie has started her first real year in college and Kaysha has returned to high school. Sam was just offered a service scholarship that will help with her expenses and Kaysha was just offered a job. Meg seems to be doing well. We just keep her as busy as we can. She loves her nieces and nephews and seeing them is the one thing that I know will cheer her up when she is down. I wish we could get her to lose some weight. She has gained over 30 pounds this past year with everything she has gone through.
It has been 5 months since my accident. I have been released from physical therapy. I was quite a while ago because I go to the gym and the physical therapist said that would do just as well as me going into therapy. I was very happy about that. Just typing that makes me feel a little bad as I am supposed to be a pilates right now. It was my turn to drive and my friend didn't make it. There is a war that goes on in my head when I pick up my friend and I see her house dark. The one side tells me to go to the gym and the other side says go home and go back to bed. I was glad she didn't get up this morning because I had a late night last night. Ali and Eric took me to the University of Utah and Utah State University football game. Anyway, I opted to go back home but instead of going back to bed, I finished the dishes and am now posting this.
My injuries are doing ssoooooooooooooooooooo much better. The orthopedist told me at my last visit in July that technically my injuries were healed but it would still take 16 - 20 weeks to be completely healed. I am walking mostly normal now unless I overdo. My ribs still hurt which I find very puzzling. Whenever I would ask about my ribs, I just got the shrugged shoulders and the answer "it will go away one day". I have my doubts about that. I have been very dizzy when I lay down or when I raise my head toward the ceiling since the accident. Last week in pilates while I was laying on my side doing a side series, I felt like I was falling hard and fast and the room went black for just an instant. I had fallen to my back and as I was feeling the panic of the fall, I realized that I was already on the ground and that I shouldn't panic. I was able to get back on my side and I finished out pilates. I was a little shakey for the rest of the day. I couldn't make myself go to the doctor. I am so tired of going to the doctor. Some are so good but some just make me feel like a hypochondriac (that is probably spelled wrong). And I am tired of getting the bills. Luckily, my out of pocket has been met but I still have to pay copays. I felt a little off for the rest of the weekend but by Monday I realized that I was no longer dizzy. The dizzyness when I lay down or raise my head is gone. What a wierd way for that to happen.
I just continue to be grateful for each day that I have with my family. Life truly is a gift.
Kara and her family are moving up closer to Logan and I will miss being able to see them as often as I have had the opportunity to see them and Ali and her family are wanting to move to Bountiful. I will miss them when they go. I know that neither of these places are that far but I still have such a difficult time getting in the car, I know that I won't be driving there very often.

I forgot --- since the last post I have a new grandson. Chad and Sandi adopted a little boy. He was only 5 pounds when they got him and he is a beautiful little thing. I can't believe how much he grows from week to week. I have another grandson that is supposed to be born Sept 20. We'll see if Kara makes it that far. She already measures at 40 weeks. She is going to have a big baby.

Monday, July 13, 2009

July 13, 2009

This is a good time to write as I am waiting up for Sammie and Kaysha to get home from play practice. It is a late one tonight because it is getting closer to opening night.
Since my last blog, Sammie was involved in a fender bender. She was in a parking lot, opened her door and bent down to grab her purse and someone pulled in the spot next to her quickly and bent the door pretty badly. Luckily Sammie's foot wasn't any further out the door or it could have been her leg. I am starting to think that there is a magnet attached to any car that we have or a sign that says "Please hit me". Colby and I went to Walmart the other day and as we were leaving Colby's face just sunk and he was saying "oh, no" . We had taken the car we had just bought to replace the car that got totalled in the accident. The car we were looking at had a huge dent. Of course, we are thinking that the insurance is going to cancel us. We can't afford to get that taken care of. There were dirty scrapes around the dent. After just a few seconds I noticed that there was a pink car seat in the back seat and I knew that Meg had not ridden in that. We were at the wrong car. What a relief!!!!!!
I really am feeling so much better. I saw the orthopedist last Thursday and had x rays taken. He told me that clinically my pelvic fractures are healed but it will take another 12 - 20 weeks before they are back to normal. There was a minor amount of shifting in the pelvis but not enough to give me any permanent damage. I was told to do what I could but not to overdo and to take days of rest occasionally when I need them. I am walking much better. It is easier and I don't need to concentrate as hard to make my steps not so hard. The neurosurgeon appt is next Monday and I need to have x rays of my neck before then. I am so hopeful that this will soon all be done and I can quit going to doctors. I am debating on whether or not to follow up with any further physical therapy. It is hard to find the time to do it and after I have worked all day, I am really exhausted. I have thought that I may call the therapist and see if he can see me maybe once a week or once every other week and give me some exercises that I can do on my own at the gym. It is easier to go to the gym in the early morning before my day gets going.
Life is in full swing now. I drove on the freeway for the first time since the accident last week. It was a little unnerving but the biggest fear that I have faced was having my grandson in the car with me and driving with him in the car. It all worked out ok. Ryan was excited to ride in grandma's car. I wouldn't have been if I were him after what happened last time but he either has forgotten the incident or he has more faith in me than I have in myself.
Nikki had her birthday party last Saturday. She was so funny. She would open every present that anyone had given her and then stand up and give the present back. She just didn't understand the concept that the presents were for her and were not just given to her to open. Ari was baptised last Saturday. She is so sweet and I was so proud of her. We had a dinner at Chad and Sandi's house after the baptism. Eric had to stay in the basement in his room because he has pneumonia. They are trying very hard to keep the house sanitized and keep him away from the baby. I am going to fly to Haley's in November. I will watch the kids while she runs the Richmond marathon. I am excited to see all of them also.
Other than that, life is just busy taking care of my family, going to work, doing my church calling and whatever other things happen to come along. Life is good and I am so glad to be alive.

Monday, June 29, 2009

June 29, 2009

It has been a while so I might as well post while I wait for Sammie and Kaysha to come home. Things are progressing for me. I have started using Mondays for my "progress report". Each Monday I look back and see if I feel any better and if things are getting any easier for me. I have been able to walk more without crutches. My walking is pretty heavy and awkward so I pretend that I have a string attached to the top of my head and it is pulling me up. When I remember to do that (as long as the pain isn't too bad) I really do walk better. Some days I get pretty excited because I feel like the walking is getting pretty close to normal. That, unfortunately, doesn't last long, but I enjoy it while I can.
I went to St. George with some of my sisters last Thursday to Sunday. It was a lot of fun. We had a chance to reminisce, went to a show at Tuacan, shopping, of course, watched a movie together, ate, and spent time at the pool. It was very relaxing. I really do love being with them. Colby, Meg and I went to the Utah Symphony in the park tonight and watched fireworks. It was so good. Ali, Eric and the kids met us there. I get so emotional when those patriotic songs are played. I am very happy to live in this country. I think so often people are only thinking of things that are wrong that we very often don't remember how many things are right with our country. Our family loves the fourth of July. The parade is coming up and that is one of the highlights of our whole year. We love to go. I am so happy to be alive!!!!!!!!!!

Saturday, June 13, 2009

June 13 - update

It has been a week since my last post so it is time to update a little. It was a pretty uneventful week last week. Kaysha went to an outdoor youth adventure and just got home last night. This was to be a week full of adventure..... river trip, jungle gyms, rock climbing, trek, sleeping in teepees every night, etc. She was very excited as this is just Kaysha; however, she ended up sleeping in the lodge for two nights upchucking. She was pretty bummed but made the most of it anyway. After all, she was able to watch 6 movies while she was there. I was proud of her that she still said she had a great time.
Sammie gets home tomorrow from New York. I think she has worn Haley completely out. Thanks Haley for showing her such a wonderful time. You and Wayne need a vacation when this is done. It will be good to have her home.
Meg continues to help me. I am trying to move more without my crutches. The more I do that, the more it hurts after a while and I find I am holding my breath so I need to remind myself to breathe. Meg hurries to my side with crutches or just her hand to steady me. She is so good to be my "runner" at times when I just can't do it. I had more x rays of my pelvis done last week and the doctor said I am healing well. When I discussed the pain issues with him and asked him what I needed to do to help the pain, he said "work it". He told me that I might overdo one day and if so I would know to not do that much the next day. I decided to put it to the test. He probably told that to the wrong person because the next morning I got up and went with my "gym buddy" to the gym for the first time in 2 months. It was so good to catch up and it felt good to exercise. I didn't do the class and we were only there about 35 - 40 minutes but it was a start. Thanks Wendy for driving. Probably everyone will be so happy when I can drive myself again. My kids have been so good to drive me everywhere I need to be or want to be. I am a "basket case" in the car. I have told Colby that I need a blindfold before I get in. He is a really good driver but I am looking everywhere all of the time. The car we got has such dark tinted windows, it is difficult to see especially at night so next week I am getting that taken care of. Ali is driving the car into a shop and I am having the tinting removed from the driver and passenger side in the front. I tried to do it myself but I just couldn't. I get very light headed when I hold my head up for a prolonged amount of time.
I feel that my healing is making a major breakthrough. I really did wear myself out after my doctors appt when he told me to "work it". I have not been able to sleep on my side because of the pain that would go into my inner thighs but the last 2 nights I have been able to move my legs without pain and have been able to sleep on my side. It was a happy day for me.
This has been such a long drawn out ordeal and I need to thank my sweetheart. So many people have done so much for me but no one has done more for me than my husband. I am so grateful to him for his patience (especially when I am in the car trying to use the imaginary brake on the passenger side. Pretty soon I will have made a hole through the floorboard and I will be able to dig my heels into the asphalt.) I am grateful for his help as he has tried to do everything within his power to make everything in our home pleasant as I recover. I don't know what I would do without him. By the way we went on our first date together 40 years ago today. I just can't be that old, can I?

Friday, June 5, 2009

June 5, 2009 - graduation

It was graduation day today for Sammie. I can't believe she is that old. She is beautiful inside and out and I feel so grateful that she is mine. She came home a few nights ago after her last dance performance and let Colby and I know that she was home and said goodnight but she only took a few steps down the hall and turned around and came back and said "thanks for supporting me the last 3 years" WOW!!!!! IT WAS PAYDAY!!!. She is going to the all night graduation party tonight and Colby and I are going to work the 2:00 a.m. to 4:00 a.m. shift. I figure, why not, I can't sleep anyway. Insomnia seems to be my new companion. My body has learned to function on about 3-4 hours of sleep a night and I am having a hard time even getting that tonight. Kaysha has begun her summer partying by going out last night to a movie and tonight with another friend roller skating and enjoying all of the things at classic skating. Both girls have trips planned next week so it is going to be very quiet here. Hopefully cheap too.
I am going to start work next Monday. I will go back 3-4 hrs for 3 days a week and ease into the schedule for two weeks before I resume my normal schedule. It feels like I have had a lot of healing in the last two days. Water therapy last Thursday felt so good. I am thinking it is helping and that makes me so happy. I did go to the graduation in the wheelchair. I debated whether or not to do that but when I saw all of the people being so uncomfortable on the bleachers, I was so grateful I had a nice comfortable seat. We went to Leatherby's after the graduation and had our traditional ice cream feast. It seems strange to think that my oldest grandson graduated from 6th grade today as well. I can't be that old.