Happy Birthday Natalie!!!

It is so hard to imagine that you are 24 years old already. WOW!!
it really doesn't seem like it was that long ago that I was walking in the door bringing you home from the hospital. You were so tiny compared to your big ole chubby brother when he was born. I don't feel like I have children that are almost 26 and 24. But there you are, 24 in just two days. Amazing!! :-)

Happy Birthday to you! And may this year bring you love, happiness, health and peace my wonderful, beautiful daughter. I wish for you everything that your heart wishes.

Love ya,
Mom

Happy Birthday Brandon!!

Well Kid, ya kid it! You made it past 25 years old!! I have to admit that there were times when I had my doubts. Lying awake at night wondering where you were. Or if you were doing ok. Or those days when I knew you were heading into something that was going to back fire on you, but knowing that I had to keep my mouth shut because you had to figure it out for yourself. Besides, you wouldn't have listened anyway. You always were a "figure it out yourself" kid since the day you were born.
But that's ok. Look at you now.  All grown up and making us proud. But most importantly, making yourself proud. You set your sights on a goal 6 or so months ago. And you have worked very hard to accomplish it. And you just keep on going with it. And that makes you happy. And seeing you happy makes us happy.
So, Happy 26th Birthday Son! And may you continue to be successful in all your goals and dreams.
Love,
Mom & Dad

Surgery Update-Finally Home

Hello All.
I aplogize for taking so long to update everyone. Howver, things didn't quite go as planned with the sugery and I've been in the hospital all week.

Finally getting released to go home this afternoon.

What was originally started as a simple gall bladder removal done laproscopically, turned into a full blown major surgery that involved removing the

gall bladder, removing stones from the bile ducts the flow between the gall bladder and the liver, repairing damaged bile ducts, and doing

reconstructive surgery to all the bile duct work. Apparently all the duct work was malformed, and attached to the gall bladder and liver in the wrong

places. Most likey the result of a birth defect. The surgeon said that it is a wonder that it took 45 years for my gall bladder to start giving me

problems. He said that from the way things were malformed, I should have had some kind of gall bladder or liver issues many, many years ago.

So, I have all total 7 incisions, and 2 drainage tubes. If all looks well, the drainage tubes will be removed within 1-2 weeks. I tell ya, it is

pretty bizzare, to look down and see those tubes. I feel like some of the patients I used to care for in inter-hospital transfers when I worked

Emergency Medicine. It's very sobering. I haven't been in the hospital or had any kind of surgery in about 15 years and that was just simple

lumpectomy.

At any rate, I can't do much of anything. The doc issued lots of restirctions. Not that it matters, I'm in way to much pain to try and do much. I'm so

very grateful for Vicoden right now! I'm kind of thinking they might even be better than jelly beans, lol. Though they don't take the pain away

compltely, as least I don't want the rip the head off the first living being that comes near me. They do make the pain somewhat tolerable, dropping it

from about a 9 down to a 5.

I've managed to actually eat and hold down food the last two days. I've not been able to do that in months. I will admit however that meals and just

the sight of food do still stirke a certain amount of anxiety and fear in me. Before, everything eat or drank caused horrid pain followed by vomiting.

Now when I see food, I'm afraid that the same thing will happen. Fortunatly it hasn't yet.

Well, the Vicoden are kicking in and words are getting a bit fuzzy. That my cue to close. Thank you to all my wonderful friends and family for all

prayers, candles and positive ehaling energies that have been sent. It has really meant the world to me and my family. May you and yours be blessed in

return.

Blessed Be!

Appt. with Surgeon Today

Greenhouse Construction Update

Monday, August 17, 2009

It’s been a few weeks since I posted about the greenhouse. The project did not stall out, hubby just needed a few days off. And let me tell you he got allot accomplished during those few days!

On Saturday our good friend and neighbor John came over to help set the huge and very heavy windows while I was gone to my nieces baby shower. I really had no idea how different it would look once the windows were in, but it just really changed the whole appearance of the structure so dramatically.


East side door. West side door.

Windows done, the roof went on. This is where we recycled, using the metal roof and siding from the old chicken coop. It had been previously attached with screws as opposed to nails, so it was in really good shape. It was a bit of a tedious job to remove from the coop, but it was well worth salvaging. To have a metal roof that allows the snow to slide off of, instead of having to shovel it off, is a real asset around here. And it saved us a chunk of change by not having to buy it.

A Dream Comes to Fruition!

Something Blue? Ok it was Lavender.

I'm late as usual reporting this news. However, though our son Brandon and Ariel are already married, they threw a formal affair with the white dress and white tux this past summer. It was a beautiful event held in her parents lovely backyard. Vows were said under a flower entwined white iron gazeebo. The bride was blushingly beautiful and the groom was handsomly nervous. Just as it should be!

Family Invasion

It has been a long time since I've bounced over here and updated this blog. Too long!

We have had a very busy year. Kids have gotten married, sisters have moved away, grand-children have been added to the family tree. The list of happenings just goes on and on. It's a sure fire bet I can't update all of these events in one sitting. so, I'll start with the most recent.

Visitors, Visitors and More Visitors!

It started on or around Aug. 13th. when Matt's lovely sister Mitzi and her wonderful hubby Keith drove all the way from Roseville, Calif. for a 4 day visit. It was so great to see them again. We had seen Mitzi and beautiful daughter Cheryl last summer when they flew up for a visit but it had been about 4 maybe 5 years since we had seen Keith. Their visit just happened to fall on a few of Matt's days off so we were all able to spend some precious time together catching up and just enjoying one another's company.

A few days after they left in drove Aunt Janice and her brother Uncle Jim (this would be Matt's mom's sister & brother). Two finer folks you'll never meet. They are a joy to have around with their upbeat and humorous attitudes. We've had great fun laughing and joking with them for the past week. Janice will be leaving in a few days for her high school reunion in Boise, ID. Which left Uncle Jim without a ride home (he decide at the last minute not to go to the reunion). So, along comes Rennie (Matt's brother's wife) to the rescue. She was going to head down to Portland to see her daughter and grandson anyway. So, she headed up from Meecham, OR, stayed a few days to visit, then she and Uncle Jim left yesterday morning. It was so much fun having her here again to chat and "soapbox" with. She and I jump on soapboxes really well :)

 

 

 

So, for the past three weeks we have had family from distant places visiting and it has been such a blessing to see them all again. I for one have enjoyed every minute of it.

Easter with the Family

My apologies for being so behind in updates. Life has been very busy since the snow melted.

Let's start with Easter. We had a great time. The house was full that's for sure. Mom and Mary were here. Brandon rode out with Natalie, Zech, little Zach and Zech's daughter Emerald. Yes, a new family member. Zech has just gotten custody of his daughter (5-6 years old) and spring break was the trial run for them. We enjoyed having her here with us. She is adorable and well behaved and was soon calling Matt "Poppa".

The food was great as usual. Mom and Mary brought a turkey and some side dishes including a yummy jello of some kind. Mary is the Master of Jello's. You should see the things she does with a simple box of powdered jello. It is amazing and tasty. We provided the ham, as Natalie is not much of a turkey fan. And Natalie raided my cabinets so she could make Mom's homemade biscuits. Nobody walked away from the table hungry. Everyone had to wait some time before they had room for Mary's beautiful Lemon Merengue Pie.

The biggest hit of the day however, had to be for little Zach. Forget the traditional Easter egg hunt. He got to play "Bob the Builder" with Poppa. You can read more about it on the All About Zach page and check out the pictures. Poppa was busy digging a BIG hole. But that's another story.

Welcome!

I thought that it would be a great idea to start a little blog of sorts so that friends and family could pop in and see what is happening in our world. Not that it is all that exciting, but we do get phone calls and emails from you all wanting to know what's happening up here, so you  at least must be interested.

New Years Eve we had "visitors" and everyone has been talking about it. Sending us emails wanting pictures of our "visitors". So, rather than sit here for hours waiting for our molasas is January slow dial up connection to send you those pictures I thought why not just post them here for all to see.