Jena's Look at Christmas 2009

Jena took some pictures of Christmas morning:

We had Christmas upstairs this year in our family room.

Hard to tell but they had matching pjs from Mrs. Claus this year.

Jessica, Scott and Tosha got scuba diving lessons for Christmas.  Jessica is practicing,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

...Tosha is practicing her flipping action.

Here is Scott, being silly with his stocking.

Jena modeling Scott's pjs.  For those of you who knew us when Scott was 3, he loved his "army clothes" and wore them as often as possible  I(which is very often when you have a maid who likes you and washes them almost every night! When I saw these, I had to get them for Scott.

Ben was around, but Jena didn't get any pictures of him. We will see if Jessica or Tosha did and post them later. Jena did take a picture of Gary and I in the morning....but she doesn't know how to post the pictures without my help....and well, there are some advantages to being the "admin."

They're still cute after all these years!!!!

(perhaps not as cute as grandkids, but we can wait for that.)

Merry Christmas..a day late

Merry Christmas to our family and friends who read our blog (and yes, I am working on those Christmas cards).  (For those of you who don't know to review back, this is the third post of today so you might want to go down and work backwards)

We had a very nice Christmas season with time with our kids,extended family, and friends.  We had parties, went to see the Christmas Carol at the Hale Theater, and enjoyed family time and games.

I am happy to report that Jessica, Scott, and Tosha got scuba diving lessons for Christmas which means that I will have some dive partners to go diving with.  We will have to wait for awhile...our vacation plans are already being set for 2010--Moab trip and then Family Woodbadge Camp as I have been asked to attend and become Woodbadge certified.

Jena got an I-Pod Nano for Christmas which I heard her tell a peer tutor that she wanted a green one for Christmas over the phone.  I was unsure about it but she also mentioned it to Gary while they were looking at ads on a Sunday so we decided to go with it.  She rarely expresses something that she wants except for chips and yoyo string.  We also got a I-Home so that she can use it in her room with speakers which I think will be the usual way she uses it.  She is thrilled and excited to be choosing music to put on it.  Jena pays attention at school to the kids talking so I think she picked up that I-Pods were good gifts for teenagers.  I think she will like it.

Ben is very hard to shop for because of his illness.  One of the symtoms he has is the inability to make decisions.  When he makes even simple decisions, his thoughts will circle back and start saying that it was the wrong decision--ie, if he picked a blue shirt, his thoughts will starting repeating "The blue one is bad.  You should of picked the red one." over and over.  He is aware enough to be able to say, "That is not me saying that, but my illness." but it is a tricky thing to manage.  He takes little pleasure in things as well.  We had finally decided to let him get two rats.  Of the small animals, they can be the most interactive and loyal.  I chose a cage, hoping that it might make things a bit easier, but he couldn't quite deal with the green/blue base so Gary and he are returning it for another one.  Animals can be a stress reliever and he has always liked animals so I hope it will be a useful gift once we get it sorted out.  He still needs to pick the rats as well. 

Despite his uncertainty about the cage, his face lit up when he read the message about the rats.  Most of the day, he was happier than he has been.  Scott commented how nice it was to see Ben happy for awhile.  Ben had a hard night until he got to sleep, but it was nice to see him smile for awhile....and that is what Christmas is for...to make people smile.

Merry Christmas, one and all!

What crazy BYU fans will do?

It seemed like a great idea at the time---take my dad and Karla along with Gary, fly SOUTH to Las Vegas, go to the bowl game, and fly home the next day.  Like my dad said, "I can see it better from the comfort of my living room, but every BYU fan should go to a bowl game once in their lives." 

It actually was a good plan and things went well.  The flight was packed, but we found room in the overhead for our carryons.  The hotel was fine although a bit close to the airport (like you could hear planes taking off during the night...not as much of a problem in our room because the heater was loud enough to block the noise from the airplanes.)  We had a late lunch before the game at an IHOP with outstanding sirlion tips and a fabulous waitress with personality plus.  In fact, she was so good that we decided to head back there after the game for a light supper in hopes of getting the same waitress.  We got a different one who told us that she was an amazing waitress and that the day shifts were pale in comparsion to her.  To prove it, she started us off with hot choc served in their normal soup mugs (double normal size) with a mound of whipped cream.  Then she had sprinkled red and green Christmas sprinkles over the whole thing including the plates and on top of that she had dusted it all with choco powder.  It was a work of art!  She proved to be awesome as well.  In fact, they are probably two of the best waitresses that I have ever been served by.

It was such a restful vacation that we played Phase Ten, master addition, on Wednesday morning.  Karla remarked that she didn't think that she had ever played cards in the morning.....a mark of a true vacation!

BYU won the game against Oregon State which was also a requirement if we were going to go to the trouble of attending the game...that is just understood.  Hopefully, Oregon State fans like to go just for the experience of watching a bowl game in person....or they really had a bad trip.

Yes, it was a perfect plan and a good vacation, except for one minor thing.....IT WAS FREEZING AND YES, IT WAS MUCH COLDER THAN IT LOOKED!  Those gusts of 50 mile winds hit us right in our face the entire game...and cold and metal benches...I think that you can deduct the problem with that combination.  But let it be known, that we stayed to the bitter (cold) end to watch the fans rush the field as we were rushing to get out of the wind.

I heard that my dad reported to one of my siblings that he had now seen a bowl game in person--a once in a lifetime event.  I might do it again with Gary (and actually this was our second game since we attended the amazing Cotton Bowl while living in Texas).....but not in LAS VEGAS!

Go, BYU!

Tent pegs and marriage

First, I will probably post a few different post in the next day or two....I could put them all in one, but it makes more sense to do them separently (besides I like thinking of the titles for each post).

To set the stage for this blog post, I need to explain that I work with women who are in their mid- to late twenties, my boss and a volunteer are in their late thirties...and then there is me who has been married longer than most of them have been alive.  It is a fun group and we get along great.  In fact, our new boss James said that we finally figured out what was the major difference between this office and other offices that he has worked out...it was the lack of drama between us and in our lives that we bring to the office.  We all liked that assessment.

Anyway, back to the story, we hosted the office Christmas party for the adoption staff  and their spouses on Dec. 18th.  As part of the games, we had everyone answer the following questions before they joined the group:

1.  I couldn't believe that my spouse gave me _____________________ one Christmas.

2.  For under $100, I want my spouse to give me ______________________ for Christmas this year.

3.  In Christmas 2019, I want my spouse to give me ___________________ for Christmas.

My answers:  1-tent pegs; 2-books; and 3-a trip around the world.  This is important to remember by the end of this post.

After dinner, we passed a basket around and everyone drew out a paper to read and then we would try to guess who it was, along the way, we learned things about each other and had lots of laughs---afterall you might not know that one of your co-workers likes pink sassy high heels or another one got a santa suit from their spouse....funny stuff!

I was near the end of line to read the paper I had drawn, so I did not look at my sheet until more than half-way through the game.  Immediately, I recognized Gary's writing and realized that I got to read his to the group.  #1 on his list---tent pegs.

(Back story:  One Christmas about 12-15 years ago, we both put tent pegs in each other's stockings.  We had discovered that we were missing tent pegs on a summer campout and we both thought we were so clever to think of that at Christmas time.  We like getting weird things for each other's stockings, so we got a big laugh out of the fact that we had given each other the same funny thing.  Now years later, we had both put the same answer---trust me, we both have given each other a variety of weird gifts over the years to choose from.)

As someone began reading mine, Gary realized that we had written the same answer and we both started laughing .....and we had to share the story.  And I pointed out that I had Gary's with the same answer.  Everyone was way impressed.  Look what 32 years together can do....

The impressive one to me was Gary's #3 answer---"a companion ticket".  He said, "I knew you would say a trip.  I just wanted to make sure I get to come along.".  That is really what 32 years of marriage does!

(Final note:  Gary gave me another set of metal tent pegs in my stocking this year.  I think I might frame them in a shadow box.  They are too meaningful to use for camping :))

Bowl Bound!!!!

It looks like we got our four "wished for and anticipated" tickets to the Las Vegas Bowl.  My Dad and Karla will be going with us to Las Vegas.  We will fly out Tuesday morning and return on Wednesday.  Now we just need to arrange for a car and a hotal.  Gary and I will work on that later today.  As my dad said, "You can watch it better from your living room, but everyone should say that they went to a BYU bowl game once in their lives." and then Gary said, "But you have already been to one...the Cotton Bowl in 1996(7)?"  I said that didn't count because we just drove to Dallas from Plano and  stayed in our own house at night.  That was a great game that BYU won late over Kansas State.  We also had great seats from Rick's work.  I think our tickets are in the middle of nowhere with all of the other Cougar fans.....Go Cougars!

Migraines and such things....

My brother commented in the summer when he returned some of my Mom's journals that he had read that he was amazed how often Mom was sick, ecpecially with a headache or migraine.  She clearly had migraines which I apparently inherited and passed down to Jessica as well, we think.  She also had lots of sinus headaches which became better over the years as understanding of allergies improved.  Perhaps, she wrote most often as she was recovering from a headache, because she was in her room without children bugging her.

So, for the record, I am recovering from a migraine, just in case some distant great grandaughter may happen upon this record and wondering if I suffered from them or not.  I am doing much better in the past few years since I started taking Lyrica.  It is an off-label use of this medication, but helps me by dramatically reducing the number of migraines and actually how my migraines manifest themselves.  I usually go 5-8 weeks without a migraine and then will have a series of them over a couple of days or weeks.  The first week of December I had one almost every night during the night until I finally went to bed at 4:00 in the afternoon one day and took medication until I felt great the next morning.  This one started yesterday after a morning of Christmas Party (Utah Down syndrome Foundation), bowling  (Special Olympics), and Christmas shopping with Jena.  I decided to try the "rest and medication until it is better" approach.  I woke up about 5:00 a.m. and felt great, but it didn't last.  However, I am feeling much better now (with medication) except for a small headache on my right side.

And that is how it is.....for the record.  My sympathy goes out to all of you who also don't feel the best.  Have a quiet Sabbath.

Journaling and Blogs

Is a blog like a new toy....after awhile the newness wears off, I will will go back to days or months behind posts...or can I really ease into being a journal writing through this new medium which makes me look creative and smart by being about to cut and paste from one site to another.

I have recently reorganized rooms and bookshelves as I have mentioned.  In the process, I set up a bookshelf in "my office/gym/craft room"  (I heard snickers from those of you who know I don't really 'craft'.  However I do apparently collect scrapbook paper and lettering to do scrapbooks and that is the room I keep all that stuff in.  I prefer to think of it as "Family History", sounds much better doesn't it!)  ANYway, getting back to the subject at hand:  I have pulled out my Mom's journals and also the volumes of Giberson Trivia that she made.  So now, I have started looking through her journals.  For those of you would don't know, my mom was a journal writer.  Fairly consisent from 1960 on although there are things before that.  Amazing for someone who had eight children and a busy load in the Church especially since she was musical and creative--(think choirs, roadshows, and plays during the 1960's and 70's in the Church).  Many of her entries were simple things like "we got to of our sisters visiting taught today and still need to do two more.  Richard had two meetings tonight at the Church.  We enjoyed ice cream when he got home."  I love to read those things but I have never in my spotted attempts at journal keeping, even noted things like that.  Certainly not if I did my visiitng teaching or not.  But it is a sweet legacy for her to leave behind.  Quiet service and obedience, that was my mom.  (For the record, I have not done my visiting teaching for December, but I have brought my Christmas gift for them.)

I am not sure that a blog matches that type of private record keeping, but perhaps it is a start.  It does feel like a way to be more personal with family and friends far away.  Perhaps more like a conversation with each other than a general e-mail of the surface details of our lives.  Any thoughts!

Quick Jena Up-date

We had another post-op appointment and the doctor gave Jena some great news.  She can now eat gradually eat more solid food, although she will need to conitue to avoid very crewy or tough food like candy bars and steak which is easy for her since she doesn't like those.  She is excited because he told her she can have CHIPS.  She hasn't try them yet, because it is still a bit of a production to chew and swallow things but she might try chips for her after school snack.

Things were all looking great.  The plan is to return in 2 months and take a cranial x-ray.  If her healing is completed, then they want to do surgery the next week.  So we are tentatively set for Feb. 12th.  She should just be in the hospital 3-4 days and out of school for about 2 weeks again.

And yes, I have slowly begun removing my Thanksgiving stuff and soon our Halls will be decked with folly...(poor pun, I know, but it is Christmas............)

Not Christmas yet!!!

First I want to make it clear that I love Christmas.  It is a great time of year with beautiful lights, music, stories, food, parties, the list goes on...........it is wonderful.  However, I like November and Thanksgiving time as well and I don't like to jump so quickly from one to another.  Up and down our neighborhood, in and out of homes and stores, Christmas is coming without even a backward glance.  It is November still, so one more look at what I am thankful for.

1.  Like Jessica, I am thankful for jobs...that my children have them and that Gary has a job that has supported us as a family for all of these years.  I am grateful that since 1987, he has worked for the same company through changes, reorganizations, and buyouts.  It might not last another year, who knows...but I am so grateful for that  (and I think he likes it most days!  That is a blessing, too.)

2.  Like Scott, I am glad that Jena is doing better even though she still is dealing with the healing process.  I am grateful for health care that gives us options and for priesthood power and blessings that smooth the way.

3.  I am grateful for a spouse who supports me in my passions and children who love me and say I am a good cook (even though we know that isn't true).  It was such a great holiday as they came and went through the weekend to enjoy game playing and conversation  (and left over food, of course),

4.  I am happy that BYU won even though it was not a good game, so I am also glad we didn't have tickets and "enjoyed" it with Gary's mom and take-out Chinese food (isn't there something just fun about take-out Chinese in those containers they show on TV all of the time!)

5.  I am grateful for extended family and friends who watch out for us and have been there through the years.   I am grateful for people who have touched my life in any way, even if for just a moment.

6.  I am grateful for the earth--the beauty, the seasons, flowers, all of it.

Most of all, I am grateful for my testimony of who I am as a daughter of a personal and loving Heavenly Father, that there is a plan for us on this earth and a purpose and meaning for our life experiences.  I am thankful for  a Savior, Jesus Christ, who was provided as part of that plan so that we can repent and change throughout our lives.  I am grateful for living prophets to guide us.  I know that the Book of Mormon is true. I am thankful that Our Heavenly Father speaks to us through all of the scriptures but that inspiration also comes as a still small voice to lead and guide me individually. 

Take one more look at Thanksgiving before the calendar changes.  Happy November.

Happy Post Thanksgiving Day!!!

We had a quiet Thanksgiving Day....until after 3:00 when the troops began to arrive.  Jessica and then Scott arrived, but at our 4:00 dinnertime, Tosha had still not arrived.  Turned out that she thought dinner was at 6:00 and was spending time with a variety of friends, eating a bit here and there.  She made it just as we were finishing up on our Thanksgiving dinner.

We thought Jena might have a hard time to be around everyone eating things that she couldn't eat, so we decided to have dinner just our family.  I think that it might have been the first time that we ever did that.  We have either been with family or invited guests to join us. 

We did the traditional "things you are grateful for" around the table.  Scott said that he was grateful that Jena was feeling better.  She immediately said, "No....I'm in pain."  She refused to allow Scott to use that for his comment.  I guess that having pain means that she is not "feeling better."  She is so good and rately complains, but it is times like that we realize how tough this has been for her.

After dinner, we had invited Gary's family to join us for games and pie.  It was very fun and I think that we will start it as a regular tradition, especially as we continue to get too big to gather for a meal at someone's house.  We played "Apples to Apples" and "Rage" plus a lot of Wii and pool.  Gary and I didn't get to bed until after 12:00 because we finally got our turn to play archery  (Wii game Resort) and we kept trying to get better.

Today Gary headed out with Jessica at 4:15 a.m. to make a purchase on Black Friday.  As part of Gary's companies new health policies, we decided to get an elliptical so that we can exercise at home.  It was going on sale for $300.00 off.  Then Jessica got an additional coupon at the door for $100.00 off, so they felt like it was well worth the trip (and the lack of sleep!)

So, I spend the day arranging the third bedroom downstairs so now in addition to a guest bedroom, we now have a Mom's office/exercise room...Very nice....I guess extra bedroom are what you get as your children leave home!

Tomorrow is the great game.............................Go, BYU!

Wintery Sunday

Although our Sunday started off sunny and clear, we now have a blanket of snow all over the ground.  For once, they predicted the weather correctly.  This afternoon before the snow fell we had a 5 minute hail storm.  They were very tiny pellets and I went out and caught some in a cup to show Jena.  Jena thought I was funny, dancing in the hail.  It was nothing like the Texas hailstorms we have seen.  I remember once in Plano when we had hail that looked like ice coming from our ice machine.  It only last a minute or two but that was an amazing storm.

Jena is hanging in there.  She is getting tired of the whole thing, but she tries not to complain.  Her mouth is getting sore where the posts and wires rub her cheeks.  She is also getting tired of the limited food choices.  She asked for ramen noodles tonight so we broke them into tiny pieces before we cooked them and she ate two bowlfuls.  I think she might be eating noodles alot for the next month.

Our neighbors and friends have been so nice to us and brought us dinner for the past three days.  It is so sweet of them.  Gary and I still find ourselves tired.  That hospital stuff is not very restful.

One thing that I accomplished yesterday was buying and putting together two small bookcases for our "guest room".  I also cleared off and moved another bookcase into our new "work room".  I have already started the process of rearranging books so now I can find them when I want them and no books are piled behind others.  I am happy to report that now I have empty spaces on my bookshelves which is great news.....more books!!!!  Just in time for Christmas..............hint to my family.

We had a special Stake Conference today, although I stayed home with Jena.  For one reason, it was actually our third Stake Conference of the year.  And second, Elder Boyd K. Packer and his son came and spoke along with members of our Stake Presidency.  Apparently, they had done some regional leadership training on Saturday and had picked our Stake to attend on Sunday.  It was held at our Stake Center and videoed to the other buildings.  Gary was asked to help with our building tech support.  In fact they used my computer for part of the meeting.  Gary said that it was a great meeting talking about the priesthood power and our homes.....he was busy with computer problems during most of the meeting..for awhile they listened to the sound from a cell phone at the mic in the Stake center to another cell phone in our building also at the mic.  At least for the last 45 minutes of the meeting, everything went smoothly so Elder Packer's talk was uninterrupted.

Jessica is very busy with work, finishing up required items and screenings for the first 90 days of Head Start year.  Scott is busy with school, finishing up with the semester that ends in two weeks.  Ben is busy, finishing up a cold.  He did run a small fever for a half of a day, but it didn't return so we think he didn't have the flu.  Tosha is busy, looking for a second job but also being bored from time to time.  Jena isn't so busy, but she is recovering and that is a big job.  Gary is busy with work, although he was able to work from the hospital so he didn't get too far behind.  I feel somewhat less busy, because I am off of work for another week  (I know I usually only work 2 days a week, but it does cut into my time and my plans.)   

And in the words of a famous rabbit......"And, that's all, folks."     Have a great week.

A picture look at Jena's hospital stay

As part of Jena's journal, we took pictures during her stay.  This is a few of them:

Here is Gary and Jena, playing "Pass the Pigs" while waiting for her surgery on Friday the 13th.

Here is Jena in the intensive care unit at Primary's.  Because of her sleep apnea she had to stay there for two nights so they could provide breathing support while she slept.  On her bed in the red frame is a picture of her Beehive class.

 On Sunday after she moved to the regular surgical floor, she got a visit from a therapy dog.  She liked that.

Scott visited and got his picture taken  with Spiderman in the 3rd floor lobby.

Checking my heart at the "Forever Young" playroom.

Cute picture of Jena and Gary

walking in the hall with her IV

stand.

Coming home to a Big Surprise,,,,,her beautiful Beehives and wonderful leaders came and decorated her bedroom.  I was trying to get the camera out fast enough to get some pictures, but she made the corner in our hallway and saw the crepe paper and headed fast to check things out.  Here is some of their work.

Entering her newly decorated room.......

The handprints you see are from the Beehives..each one has a message from one of them.  Sparkle is from their camp cheer.  Jena loved to "have sparkle" at camp.

They made her a blue snow flake blanket during their service project on the last time Jena was at Young Womens.  She did not know this one was for her.

Here is a darling picture of Jena which was on the poster board size card that all the YW signed for her.  This of course is pre-surgery.  At the moment, she still is quite swollen and sore (and she isn't interested in me taking pictures of her at the moment) but we know that we will see this beautiful smile again  (actually she still has a cute smile....it just a bit swollen!)

Jena got up and got dressed to get on with her day, while I stay in my pjs and ended up taking a nap  (For the record, I did get things done--unpacking, laundry, answered some e-mails---but mostly, I just began to recover......apparently Jena is further ahead than me).

Thanks again for all of your e-mails, comments, phone calls, food, and prayers.  We appreciated it so much!

Home Sweet Home

For those of you who stay up later than this or get up earlier than I will tomorrow (which will be most people in the Mountain time zone and most of the Pacific....we are sleeping in!!!) I wanted to say that we are home safe and sound. Jena has three medications and an ice pack, we have a pantry and refrigerator of soft or liquid food, and everyone is glad for us to be home...most of all Jena, Gary, and I. I can't wait to sleep on a real bed.

We have more to share but we will do it in the morning when we aren't so tired.

Hopefully...............................

.......we will be leaving today and begin the next phase of recovery at home. However, before we go, one doctor wants to see her eat more calories in pureed form, another doctor wants to pass us of on screw turning (somewhere between 8-10...getting close as you can tell since it is now 9:56), and we want clarification on the plan for a new mask and general sleep apnea treatment. So you can see it might be a long day. Jena is sleeping again. For the first time, since moving into this room, she has not wanted to get out of bed (except for the required items) and she has been sleeping most of the morning. I think she is getting tired of the hospital too. More later.............maybe actually from Syracuse!

Good Morning Tuesday!

Jena slept the night with no oxygen or pressured air and her oxygen levels stayed fine most of the night. Hard to believe but the doctor resident who came this morning said it is possible that they made enough of a change in the back of her nose/mouth that she is able to breathe better even being swollen. We were told not to expect any changes for a couple of mouths or even more. That could be good news. Another piece of good news was we had a fiesty nurse who convinced the resident doctor to change her pain medication. She was not doing well with the Lortab--the liquid form tastes terrible and requires so much liquid that most of it did not get in and swallowed. She never does well with Tylenol of any type which is a part of Lortab. Now she is on oxycedone and is responding much better. We enjoyed visits from her cousins, Nikki and Kystal, and their parents, Uncle Gary and Aunt Vonette. We had to go out to the waiting room because kids under the age of 14 are not allowed back in patient rooms due to H1N1 restrictions. She is getting a bit bored with this place, but we are moving toward going home. They took her off IV fluids this morning to see if she can manage to keep hyderated during the day. She enjoyed an orange cream slurrpee for breakfast...some of it anyway. We are still waiting for the "turning" of the appliance. It didn't happen yesterday, but it should start today. Several people mentioned that they couldn't leave comments. I think that I have fixed that problem, so you can try again. Jena says hugs and kisses to all her family and friends...................More later!

Sunny Monday

Gary says we should call it "Cheeky Monday"...Jena is swollen as a chipmonk today. She is hanging out with ice on her face. Scott came up to visit and we are expecting more visitors this evening. Today is the first day that her appliance is supposed to be adjusted, but no one has come to do it yet. We will adjust it every day for 14 days. I assume someone will come soon. Jena's Beehive leaders made a DVD for her and sent it up for us to watch. We have seen it twice and probably will view it a few more times. Jena loves it and we were so grateful for her leaders and the Beehives. We would attach it but it is too big for this site. If you come to visit, we can share it with you.

Sunday cont..............

We are now settled into Jena's "home away from home" for the next few days or so. We still haven't seen a doctor, but she was able to transfer to the surgical unit on the third fllor of Primary's. It is actually just down the hall and around the cornor from the room where Tosha was for her hip surgery. We have a nice roof view and you can see the bright sunshine and the mountians from our window. Our room is 3080 and the room phone number is 801-662-3080. We can now use our cell phones so if needed we can be reached most of the time on our cell phones---if we are sleeping or wide away but in a different part of the hospital. Naptime for me while Jessica and Gary entertain Jena by playing Sponge Bob play station game.

Sunday morning.......

Jena says she is doing good. She slept great except she had to go to the bathroom all night long due to the IV fluids. She is off the IV for the time because she drank some apple juice. We haven't seen any doctors yet. However, the nurse said she might really get to move today because she was able to maintain her oxegen levels with a basic mask with no pressure. Gary is here now so she is done with blogging for the moment. She laughed this morning at something I said, so that means she is doing better. They just gave in and sais that she can move to a regular room as soon as they get all the paper work done. Yeah!!!!

Saturday--It's snowing....

but not inside where we are at. Jena is doing fine and we are having a quiet day (unfortantely we can't get the BYU game on the TV, so I am watching the up-dates on the ESPN site. We aren't doing well--BYU that is.) Jena is sleepy today but has managed to sit up twice for about 30 minutes each. That helps a lot with breathing better and keeping things moving in the right direction. There is talk that we might be able to move from the intensive care to a regular room later today. That would be nice. The rooms are very nice where we are at (in fact this section just opened about 1 1/2 weeks ago.) However, it is noisier here than a private room would be. Her doctor did indicate that he is thinking that she will probably stay here until Friday. He wants to make sure that her air way is stable, especially while she sleeps. On Monday, they start turning the appliance that will expand the jaw area and open up the back of the throat. He thinks it will take more time than he originally planned to get things where he wants it. So, I guess we will plan on Friday and be happy if we go home before then.

Last one for tonight

We are sitting in Jena's room in the intensive care unit of Primary. Jena is awake...and then asleep...and then awake again...and Disney Channel is on. Things are going fine and she is regaining a bit of color after being very pale when we first saw her. We showed her the cute picture of her Beehive class when we returned from dinner (She often refers to them as her Beehives) and it brought a smile to her face. She loved it and happy to have it with her in the hospital. Gary will be heading home later tonight and I will be sleeping in the room with Jena tonight. Have a great night.

Surgery is done....

and all is well. The doctor just left after reporting that things went as expected. They were able to remove the air tube before she left surgery so she will be more comfortable as she recovers today. He also gave us the model of her jaws and nose. It is made out of some type of plastic. They used it to plan her surgery and design the appliance that is in her mouth. Jena will be excited...she likes to see her "bones" and other medical stuff. Thanks for your thoughts, notes, and prayers. Now the hard work for Jena begins....does anyone have a smoothie recipe with potato chips in it.

First Up-date

Gary and I are sitting in the surgery waiting room at Primary's. We just got our first up-date and things are going great. The nurse reported that Jena was very brave and handled everything well as she came to the operating room and was put to sleep. She fell asleep well and they have been working actually on the jaw for about 10 minutes. We arrived here at 9:00 a.m. this morning and have been hanging out as they did the variety of things that need to be done before surgery. She handled it all well. During our free time, we played games (big surprise!) and Jena colored and played X-box. I was happy when I heard that she would have Dr. First to put her to sleep. He was the same doctor she had when her tonsils were removed last year and he was great. That is it for now. Dr. Siddiqi indicated that it might take up to 4 hours for the entire procedure. We will get up-dates along the way.

Create--

This and That...and is change possible?

It is amazing how much you can get done when there is a deadline set up. Yesterday, I cleaned closets, organized the family and living rooms, gathered the remaining Halloween decorations, scrubbed the porch (berries from a nearby bush make a mess every year--not good planning on my part), hung some curtains at the townhouse, hung two hook racks, and the list continued. With Jena's surgery on Friday, I wanted to get things done on my "to do" list. Of course, some of those things have been sitting on that list for a long time. Any way, it is a great feeling to have some much done...of course, the list still remains with more to do. Planning for a hospital stay is like going on a vacation. It takes longer to get ready than the time that we are actually away. I have been thinking a lot about change. How do we really change from where we are at to a new place? Interesting enough, it does seem that it is time for me to change something (or things). 1-I have been feeling a desire to change some things; 2-Gary's company has a new health program and insurance. As part of that, we are to be involved in programs of our choosing to improve our general health and emotional well-being. It includes readings and goal setting in a variety of areas; 3-General Conference...doesn't that always make you want to change and do better?; 4-As part of our outdoor training last week, our boss has asked us to set goals, professionally and personally; and 5-Our Bishop has asked me to take the Wood Badge Training (Boy Scout) which involves goal setting and achieving. With all of that, I think I need to make a move and figure out what I need to do and how I can really accomplish change? It is easy to make a list of things that I should do to improve my life, but it is in daily living that things get difficult. Exercise is a prime example. I actually love to walk, but in the past few years it has been very difficult to fit it in, esepcially when the early morning time doesn't work with my migraine "profile". Pres. James E. Faust stated: "Each new day that dawns can be a new day for us to begin to change. We can change our environment. We can change our lives by substituting new habits for old. We can mold our character and future by purer thoughts and nobler actions. As someone once put it, “The possibility of change is always there, with its hidden promise of peace, happiness, and a better way of life.” I have often appreciated that life is divided up in 24 hours periods and that a dawm starts each one because it does give a feeling that we can start again to do something different. Now, if I can just figure out how to do it!!!! Ideas...............anyone? (Note to family members: And no, I don't need ideas on what to improve on--I have a list already too long to mention.)

Two Great Days

My sister says that you should post something every 3-4 days so that your "blog watchers" will find things when they check. I am not there yet, but I do think of many things that I would like to write almost every day. I think that perhaps I have some of the Journal "genes" from my foremothers and fathers (the thinking part) but not all of them because I haven't managed to become an actual journal writer yet. Life is filled with so many great things and lessons--easy and hard- surround us every way we turn. I do know change is possible and someday (probably when we can down load directly from our brain.) I will be a journal writer. My two great days: Halloween: Not really my favorite holiday, because I think it is kind of dumb to walk around in the dark and "beg" for candy. Part of it also is because I never liked to dress up mysef or to be scared which pretty much sums up Halloween. However, this Halloween was a great day. Gary's family has a long standing (over 50 years) tradition of having chili and scones on Halloween night so that all of the family can drop in and share their Halloween costumes with grandparents, aunts, uncles, etc.....It has divided and sub-divided over the years, but still is a nice tradition. This year four of our five children came (Jessica was at Lagoon with out of town guests). We didn't think that Scott and Tosha were coming because they had work, but they both got off earier and headed over before pursing other activities. I was so happy about that. Jena of course was there. This was her year to not go trick or treating because she is afterall in junior high. We were pleased when Ben headed over (it was at Gary's sister's home in our neighborhood.)to eat some chili. The highlight of the evening came a bit later. While eating, we shared with the family that Ben had won first place in a costume contest at a party. He had gone as Abe Lincoln (He looked great---picture may come later when I learn how to do that.) A little while later, we noticed that Ben was gone which wasn't surprising since groups can be stressful for him. A few minutes later, the doorbell rings and in comes Ben dressed as Abe Linclon, beard and all. It was so great. It is a simple thing, but a huge thing for Ben. And Gary and I have come to learn to cherish the good moments and the happy days for Ben when they come. My second great day was yesterday as we headed up in the mountains for a staff meeting retreat. We first watched a Mormonad on "Create" from Elder Utchdorf (which I would insert here if I knew how). Then we hiked up a muddy trail near Snowbasin Ski resort to a place called Green Pond. (I won't lie..there were a couple of moments that I thought "Don't they know I am over fifty and really can I make it up this hill!" My new boss is 37 and very physically active and every one else is in their late 20's.). We took camp chairs and then had time to read and ponder some quotes, stories, and scriptures that our boss had prepared for us. And we talked. It was a perfect fall day with a slight breeze and beautiful blue sky. The pond had a large beaver dam and the water was perfectly still. It was wonderful and so worth the hike (One lesson learned---the hike really was not bad and so worth it when we reached the top. Jena could easily do it if there was no mud. However, it was me who worried if I could make it. We did not know how long or steep the trail was going to be. Our boss just kept encouraging us to keep going, that it wasn't that far, and that it was so awesome once we got there. Life is just like that.--also insert the word "trial" for "trail" as I accidently did while typing. Once again, isn't life like that. There is always One on the trail calling out that it isn't that much further, we can make, and it is so worth it once we get there.) Coming down the mountain and off to lunch and then on to regular life, I carried a peace and calm that comes from mountain tops and also the Lord's mountain tops (and for me, also ocean waves) that can't be found in other ways. Great days.

It's a start.......

I have decided that I am nuts because I have decided that it is time to move to the blog world and start a blog (actually two). One for family and friends to keep you up-dated on us and the things that are going on in our lives. It will replace my "Hi from Syracuse" e-mails. It is suppose to be easier to add pictures and other cool things that I don't even know how to do yet. Please let me know if you have blogs as well...I am always interested in how my family and friends are doing (I do keep somewhat up-dated on some of my nieces and nephews through my children's contacts with them through facebook. We (Jessica, Jena and I) just returned from Mesa, AZ, where we attended the wedding and other activities of my nephew, Jarom, and his new wife, Starla. It went wonderful and we have a very relaxing visit. We enjoyed the beautiful weather and came home to snow today in Utah. Oh, well, the fall was wonderful while it lasted. Finally, it seems that the kids are settled for the minute: Jessica and Tosha are living together in Layton. Jessica is working at Head Start and Tosha is working at the same Red Lobster where Scott is at. Scott just moved to a new appartment in Ogden very close to Weber State. He is still getting settled but likes being close for the first time in his college career. Ben is working a couple of hours a day as a janitor. It is not his favorite but he does like having a job and a little money. Jena is loving junior high. Right now she is at the LDS Ogden Temple doing baptisms for the Dead. It is a wonderful thing that she can feel the special spirit that comes only at the temple. She has recently completed her basketball and swimming with Special Olympics. She loves it and the friends that she is making. Bowling starts in a couple of weeks. Gary and I are hanging in there. Life continues to be good even when things don't go the way that we plan. One other important information is that Jena is scheduled for her jaw/nose surgery to improve her sleep apnea and bite is set for Nov. 13th at Primary's. We will try to up-date this blog with information daily while she is in the hospital and recovering. Hopefully, it works...... There is the up-date. Hope all is well with all of you. In case you are wondering, my other blog is a way to keep my children up-dated on things in the family.....it is hard to keep track of who kows what so I am starting a blog with information including a calendar and other important things. It will be a private blog.