Another Installment of Medical Mysteries

Mike woke up two weeks ago with a knot in his calf.  After several days, some massaging, and babying the knot went away.  He started running in the mornings again only to find that the pain/knot returned in his left leg.  Well it has now been two weeks and the pain has only increased.  He has iced it and heated it, he has lived on pain-killers...  his last resort was to go to the doctor.  I have to say I was surprised, Dr. Dave is just as stumped as we are.  He ordered tests at the local hospital to rule out a blood clot only to be more vexed.  The technician found no blood clot, but Dr. Dave is still leaning towards it.  SO here we are, waiting to be told if we need to start on blood thinners or go consult with a sports medicine doctor for more tests.

Mike didn't like that I took pictures (just look at that muggin).  I want to know how he can look so cool while having an ultrasound.  I never looked that good...  oh wait, I was pregnant, couldn't pee, and felt I would explode!  Men have all the breaks...

In Honor of John Chapman, William Tell, Sir Isaac Newton, Steve Jobs.... and Cher

What do all these people have in common?  Apples.  Today I was at the grocery store and noticed to my delight, that the "Honeycrisp" apple is again available.  This is a big deal at our house.  The honeycrisp is very sot after.  I'm surprised we haven't penned a poem or hummed a tune to the delicious variety, or have we?

Honeycrisp, Honeycrisp

Chewy, chewy, chewy

Honeycrisp.... (again!)

Well all, if you want a crisp (it's even in the name), sweet, tangy, wonderful apple, I would pay the extra money for the best apple experience you will ever have!

...and as you sit and ponder everyone in the title and piece together why they are associated with my dear apples, you can be relieved that Cher has nothing to do with it, except I do like the song "Half-Breed" and have been singing it all night long... :)

Abby's Prayers

I'll tell you, I have Abby pray as much as I can.  Why you ask?  She has the most creative, interesting, informative, heartfelt prayers I have ever heard.  She talks about all the family members she has lost lately (pets included). How much she loves them and the circumstances in which they left.  She discusses how old we are.  How Jesus died for us so we can go to heaven and if she died she wouldn't go to heaven (no joke, but I think she meant if she took Jesus' place, she isn't the Savior, thus we wouldn't be able to go to heaven,  pretty deep...) and then hopefully she blesses the food...

Yesterday they must have talked about praying.  Here is her list: (Notice the great penmanship)

I thank thee...
Health
Lise (?)
Earth
Plants
Clothes
Family
Jewelry (my favorite)
Bright
Jesus
Toy

I ask thee...
Safety
Courage
Skin (another favorite)
Bag (?)
Plants
Family

Ever Wanted To Look Like a TROLL Doll?

We have laughed and laughed over this silly iphone application.  It's called "CamWow" and it morph's the subject into something ridiculous!  Here are some of our favorites...

In her quest to become "Super Barbie"...

Abby came home last week from first grade and said, "Kameron wants to be a police man when he grows up, I want to be Super Barbie."  My thinking is that she must have read "The Secret" because the universe answered back and she is well on her way...  Aunt Kathy sent a much loved birthday package....  Inside could have been classified as a "Super Barbie" uniform. 

Every Super Barbie needs a sparkly-pink "twirly" skirt. 

Abby Pulled Through!!!

Today I had a lull (so what if it was the 2 minutes I spent in the bathroom!  SERIOUSLY, that's all I had today.) I thought to myself, "What am I going to write about this week?"  I couldn't think of anything.  I thought I might just have to put a picture of Abby on and say, "That's all folks!"  

Abby has had a loose tooth for about ten days now.  When I picked her up from school the tooth was WAY loose.  In fact, she was talking extra "lispy" because of the tooth.  I dropped her off at the babysitters and went back to work.  I had to work a couple hours extra tonight, so I didn't get home until after 8pm.

LOW AND BEHOLD, when I got home, the tooth was gone!  She said she was going to get a cricket outside and it (the tooth) was just gone (I didn't even know she knew what a cricket was!)  Well, she has put the tooth under her pillow.  She is worried that the tooth fairy won't come because she hasn't come to any of her friends (according to Mike)...  I asked him if any of her friends had lost teeth and he didn't know...

I feel like I need a drum roll, right about now!  Now here she is, TADA!!!

Labor Day and Labels

Monday morning we went to brunch at the Original Pancake House, it was a real treat!  I can't seem to get enough pancakes.  Yes, besides being a "shopping addict", I'm also a "carb addict".  I don't mind one more label for me, however....  I'll get back to that in a minute...

We then went to Thanksgiving Point to show Abby the dinosaur exhibit.  She had a blast running around.  There was SO much to see that she seemed a little A.D.D. 

Sorry the pictures aren't very clear, I forgot my camera so I had to use my phone...

Speaking of labels, we received papers from the school to verify all the contact information.  They have labeled Abby as "Resource/Special Ed."  I'm not liking that label for her.  I don't see how she can be labeled that, IF she is fully mainstreamed and is doing grade-level work, well.  So I went to the office.  They explained that she is labeled that becasue she still has an IEP and is pulled out periodically to work on her IEP goals.  I'm not sure why it irritates me so much, but it does.

I'm Bigger!

That was Abby's sentiment on Friday morning when she woke up.  Being six is no small thing.  (Actually with all the attitude she dishes out some days, it really IS a miracle!  I kid, I kid....)  Yes, Friday was Abby's birthday.  She has been counting down the days for quite a while.  I was hoping she wouldn't be disappointed because we didn't have a huge party.  

As you can see from the pictures we took of the "small gathering" she had a great time.  Last night exceeded what I was hoping for her.

This is my favorite picture of the evening.  I think it shows pure happiness... and a great cake! (Yet, I'm not sure why all my favorite pictures seem to have a focusing problem!)  Thank you for the candle, Kathy.

Abby was able to invite one friend over, she chose Breeanne (I'm surprised Alex didn't make the cut!)  We are friends with the parents so they also hung-out.

 

I had to throw this picture in, just because it makes me laugh.  She looks a little not-right-in-the-head, I think it's birthday hysteria.  The necklace was a gift from my mom.

Life is grand, isn't it???

Yum, it's pumpkin time!

I am NOT a morning person.  I have been habitually late this summer to work, yet Friday I learned why it may be nice to be on-time.  I raced Abby to school, we barely made it, but we did.  After I dropped her off, I looked at my clock and I still had 10 minutes to get to work.  Since I only work 3 minutes from Abby's school, I decided to go and get some breakfast.  I splurged on an Einstein bagel.  It was pumpkin.  As I bit into it, I felt the heavens open and angels singing "Ahhhhhhhhhhh".  Yes it was THAT good.  Once again I am benefiting from my favorite part of the year, fall.  I know, I know, yesterday was 98 degrees, today won't be any cooler but in the retail world, it's officially fall!  The pumpkin cavalry has come to save the day!  The pumpkin shakes, pumpkin rolls, pumpkin pie, pumpkin chai, pumpkin bread, pumpkin cookies, and pumpkin cheesecake will carry me through the rest of the summer, where soon I will be able to walk outside and feel the crispness of the air on my cheeks and layer my clothing to my hearts content!

Here is one of my favorite pumpkin recipes:

Libby's® Pumpkin Roll with Cream Cheese Filling

By: Libby's® 

Ingredients

• 1/4 cup powdered sugar (to sprinkle on towel)
• 3/4 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 3 large eggs
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 2/3 cup LIBBY'S® 100% Pure Pumpkin
• 1 cup walnuts, chopped (optional)
• 1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese, softened
• 1 cup powdered sugar, sifted
• 6 tablespoons butter or margarine, softened
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/4 cup powdered sugar (optional)

Directions 

PREHEAT oven to 375 degrees F. Grease 15 x 10-inch jelly-roll pan; line with wax paper. Grease and flour paper. Sprinkle towel with powdered sugar.

1. COMBINE flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, cloves and salt in small bowl. Beat eggs and sugar in large mixer bowl until thick. Beat in pumpkin. Stir in flour mixture. Spread evenly into prepared pan. Sprinkle with nuts.
2. BAKE for 13 to 15 minutes or until top of cake springs back when touched. Immediately loosen and turn cake onto prepared towel. Carefully peel off paper. Roll up cake and towel together, starting with narrow end. Cool on wire rack.
3. BEAT cream cheese, powdered sugar, butter and vanilla extract in small mixer bowl until smooth. Carefully unroll cake; remove towel. Spread cream cheese mixture over cake. Reroll cake. Wrap in plastic wrap and refrigerate at least one hour. Sprinkle with powdered sugar before serving, if desired.

A Sigh of Relief!

I will tell you, I was worried!  Last year during Abby's IEP meeting, it was determined by the "experts" that she should take kindergarten over.  I didn't like that at all, their reason was even though she was the highest achieving student in the USDB kindergarten program (Utah School for the Deaf and Blind) at Mill Creek Elementary, they thought she was a bit immature and young to move up.  (She missed the cut-off date by two days)  We agreed that she would go to kindergarten in the morning and 1st grade in the afternoon. 

Two weeks before school started, I went into Abby's school to confirm the prior meeting's agenda for her.  I spoke with the new principal who did not attend the meeting in May.  She sounded like it was a go but had to check with Student Services before moving forward.  To make a long story short, Abby was placed in 1st grade.

Here comes the apprehension...  In my conversations with neighbors, other teachers, and family they all expressed concern that she was moving forward and not ready to be main-streamed.  My reasoning was that I wanted her challenged and not feeling bored at school.  She had friends going to kindergarten AND 1st grade so I wasn't worried that way.  I feel like Abby's challenge is expressing herself.  She still is hard to understand at times and worried that meeting new friends would be a struggle.

Last night we went to "Parent Teacher Night".  I had requested Mrs Zakowski because neighbors said she was the best.  She told us that Abby is fitting in beautifully.  She is academically where she needs to be and hasn't had problems finding friends in class.  We also found out that she has a sister who is deaf.  Finding people who know the deaf world and their hardships are rare.  Mrs Z knows first hand all about it!

Mrs Z told a funny story about Abby; Wednesday morning she dressed in a skirt and top.  She accessoried with a fur vest.  The classroom was very warm (no air).  Abby took it off during class.  In the afternoon, the warmest part of the day, Abby was asked to stand and read in front of the class.  The story was cowboy themed.  Before Abby read the page, she asked Mrs. Z if she should put the vest on (because it was western looking?)  Mrs. Z said she was very cute and animated in everything she does. 

Yes, it's going to be a great year!

1st Day of 1st Grade

Look how huge that back-pack is!  I'm not sure if it's extra big or she is extra small.  Someone got the proportions wrong.

This is my favorite picture of today.  She is telling me that we need to get in the car.  I guess she wanted to be there EXTRA early.  For the record, I was 15 minutes early to school today (miracle).  I wanted to make sure I didn't rush her and stress her out.

I couldn't leave out Alex.  Aren't they cute!  They were excited they were at the same school.

Abby and her 1st grade teacher, Mrs. Z.  She impressed Abby.  On our way home Abby told me she was SOOO nice.  They were on-top of Abby's hearing, before I could get into the class they were already hooking her headset up so Mrs. Z could talk into Abby's hearing aids.

Looks like another great year!

Only a penny?

I am a "reformed" (self-induced) addicted shopper.  Can I say self-induced if my husband and I sat down on Sunday and had our own "coming to Jesus budget-meeting?"  Okay, okay I'm feeling kindof guilty, but I've got cool stuff!  Where am I going with this, you ask???


So I was on Amazon.com (my new fav...  okay, I've liked the site for quite a while, but now I truly appreciate it!)  Flirting with the devil, you might say...  I think I can look, just can't touch, right?  Ok, I did more than look...   Well, I was looking up all sorts of things.  Low and behold you can buy makeup for 1 cent.  I thought it was a hoax but then, it's just one penny (shipping was $3.99).  So I placed an order.  A couple days later I received this: tinted moisturizer!  Even with the shipping it was much cheaper than in the store.

I'm pretty proud of my purchase; however, I did confess to Mike....  maybe I'm still on the first step of recovery! 


BTW, DO NOT GOOGLE FOR A PICTURE OF "PENNY!"  I didn't realize so many naked women were named "Penny."

My Dear Son, Levi

Tomorrow is my beautiful baby boy's birthday.  Not a day has gone by without thinking of him.  Levi's birth was a special day and a wonderful memory. I cherish every pregnancy kick I felt and every second I held him in my arms.

Happy birthday my little one, mommy loves you.

My best friend

 

I hope everyone has one of these.   This is my friend Kris (nickname).  I have known her since, I don't know when, it's been that long....  Nearest we can tell our mom's were visiting teachers when my family moved to Washington in 1976 or soon after.

Every-time we talk it's just like old times.  I doesn't matter that I haven't seen her in years, or that we have husbands, children, obligations...  We can still sing the old songs, laugh at the funny stories, and reminisce.  

Kris, I just want you to know that I appreciated you coming to my dad's viewing and even though it was sad, it was SO good to see you.  Thank you for another memory!

My Dad

My first memory of my dad was riding the potato truck.  It was a REAL treat.  I remember climbing up the big truck and being not really able to see out of the windshield.  One afternoon we even picked up a hitchhiker and I listened to him and my dad visit.

I remember spending many Sunday's at my grandparents home in Othello.  We would leave for home at dusk, so the ride back would be in the dark.  We would all sleep and my mom and dad would visit in the car, but many times my dad would turn up the music and I would hear him sing along.  I still have a special place for the Statler Brothers, Eddie Arnold, and Marty Robbins.

My dad was very playful.  As my mom was trying to put us all to bed, he would tease us and say, "When you go to bed, that's when we get out all the good stuff."  My mom would be so irritated because it would get us all riled up.

I remember his sweaty, earthy smell when he came in from the fields.

I remember the feel of his cheek when I would kiss him.

I remember the smell of the aftershave he wore when he and my mom would go out for the evening.

My dad was very generous.  What ever he had and you asked, he would share.  He found out I collected little tourist spoons.  Where ever he went, even the next town over, he would ask if I had THAT spoon.

My dad was patient, my dad was even tempered.  My dad was humble.  My dad was strong.  My dad had a testimony of Jesus Christ.  My dad was wise.  My dad loved me.  My dad was proud of me.

When my son died, I wanted my dad to come and dedicate his grave.  I knew my dad didn't have lots of vacation time but I knew I didn't have to get a second choice because my dad wanted to do it.  He drove all day just to be there for me.

On Memorial Day, my dad was diagnosed with Cancer.  The cancer was aggressive and took my dad June 14th.  Five days earlier, we found out it was stage 4, pancreatic.  I was lucky enough to be there when he passed and will always be grateful.

After his passing, I learned so much about him.  My dad's brothers and friends shared stories I had never heard before.  My dad was truly a good man.

I love my dad, I am so glad that I am in an Eternal Family.  My son is so lucky to have my dad with him.  There has always been a part of me that has been afraid to die, but since my dad has passed, I know what it feels like not to be afraid.

I had a great dad and I will miss him very much.

Hilary's then on to Camp Bartlett

After almost a week of huge activities, we crashed and we crashed hard.  It was a good thing we were able to take a break at Hilary's house (where she spoiled us further).  But her family didn't get nothing in return, Abby was able to hook their dog up with a tail.  Poor Princess didn't know she was missing something until Abby showed her.

We were also able to cheer for David.  He played awesome!  Best yet, they won!!!

Going out afterwards to celebrate was a must.  We went to a Japanese steakhouse, oh yum!

We then went to Kathy's house, Camp Bartlett, to finish out our stay.  We were there for Easter so Abby was able to celebrate with lots of family.  We all chipped in to make it great!

Doesn't it look like she is suffering?  Yeah, we had that much fun!

 

She had lots of eggs to find!

As you can see, she also had her own private paparazzi.  Everywhere she turned there was a "pap" waiting to take a picture.  Uncle Steve was no exception. 

 

Have I said, "Family is the best, yet???"

Raise your hand if your spoiled!!!

Have I mentioned we have great family?  They make us feel like we are super-stars and often they splurge on us.  California was kind of like a splurge crescendo! (sorry mom, with all my piano lessons, that's all I remember...)  Hilary gave Mike, Abby, David, and I a helicopter ride over the Los Angeles area.  We flew over the Hollywood Hills and over the ocean.  It was truly incredible!  Here is the whole group...

The group that went on the helicopter ride...

We saw where Eddie Murphy, Drew Barrymore, Hugh Hefner, Alex Trabek, and Johnny Depp lived, to name a few.

 

 

Who knew Mickey was a cousin???

After we spent time with Rusty and Lee and Ronnie Reagan, of course...  We went on to see Mike's family, where we had more family "get togethers."  We started out at Disney Land.  Abby and I had never been and for Mike it had been so long he couldn't remember.  We had a BLAST!

 

We hit the day HARD!  There were characters we HAD to meet, rides to be rode, and shopping, shopping, shopping to be done!  First off, we met Snow White and the Queen, they were definitely my favorites.

 

Can you see the resemblance?

  

We were also able to go to Ariel's grotto, where we met Ariel, Cinderella, Snow White, Belle, and Sleeping Beauty.  That was a highlight for everyone, I think.

 

 

Toon Town

Mickey's House

Abby, Lacey, and Kathy checking out Mickey's mode of transport.

 

We had so much fun, at the end we were all a little tuckered out.

 

We definitely will be coming back!!!