Random Thoughts

Today is my dad's birthday. He would have been 85. I am missing him today.

I have been very frustrated about our computer situation. I LOVE the new laptop but i was just sure that we had lost about 6 months worth of pictures. However, our friend did save them on the hard drive - I just had to figure out how to access them and now I figured it out through Picasa. I have so much to learn. Im just glad that they are in here somewhere. Now I just have to put them on disks like I should have in the first place - one of the classroom dads is going to make a slide show - but now maybe I will learn how to do it - but I probably wont for awhile.

I subbed today for Christen's class. It was fun, even though we had a little mom/ daughter moment when she was being stubborn like she would at home. I had to take her out in the hall and remind her that we were in a school setting.

Anyhow, I saw this article in the local paper the other day and I thought that it was hilarious.

OK - it is hard to read. The farthest left is a couple reunited after he was serving in the war in Iraq. About being heroes, the second is congratulationg a young HS graduate or the like, and the last is dog owners celebrating their puppy, Zoe, graduating from puppy kindergarten. It says, "Congrats on passing puppy kindergarten! We're so proud that you finally learned how to "stay" Love, Mom, Dad, Polly and Goober.

Classic!

Happy Easter!

Easter Merengue Cookies

Making the Easter cookies and reading the Easter scriptures Sat night.

Christen went to her friend, Emma's Easter hunt Sat morning at the church because the rest of us were busy helping the scouts aerate.

Easter Eggs

Dying the eggs

We have a had a wonderful Easter morning. The Easter Bunny had prepared an egg hunt for the kids for this morning. Good that it was indoors because it has been raining. and last night we made our traditional Easter merengue cookies that goes along with the Easter story as you make the cookies. I love that we do that. Then we got ready for church and our neighbors and friends Dave and Denise came to church with us. We are going to share Easter dinner together. Todd is doing better and there is much to be thankful for, especially the life and sacrifice of our Savior Jesus Christ.

Christen's new talent

Christen's school is having a talent show next month. She is doing a gymnastics routine with a few friends. This video is actually her friend's talent but as soon as she saw it she wanted to learn. I will have to record her group talent later. Sorry it is a little dark and quiet.

Todd

I dont know if I have the energy to write this all down. I have sent emails and quick posts on facebook but I have to document it here to so that if - no -- WHEN I make this into a book it will be included.

Todd had his shoulder surgery a few weeks ago and was doing ok - went back to work and all, but he never did feel at the level he should have. He thought it was asthma and first - went to the Dr and she wanted to to take xrays and blood. She thought that it was Post Op Pnemonia. So he was on very strong antibiotics for several days. Then we got the blood tests back and the numbers were WAY high. She wanted him to go get a CAT scan right away. That was Monday.

We waited in the office to find out the results - A pulminary embolism - blood clot in the lung with some damange already to the lung tissue. We went to the hospital right away. They thought at first that we may be able to go home and do all of the blood thinners at home but they decided to keep him one night and then a second so that I could learn how to do the shots in the stomach - Lovenox. He doesnt want to do it to himself. I dont blame him. I came in at 8:45 am and now we are just waiting for the Dr to check him and be discharged. We hoped it would not take so long - but this seems to usually happen. It takes FOREVER to get discharged. He will have the shots for a few more days and then have daily or so blood tests and then be on Coumedin - a blood thinner for at least 6 months. I brought in his razor today so he could shave --not thinkng that that will be a big no no becuse of a possible nick. I can see it now - Cause of Death - shaving. Sorry - that wasnt so funny. It has been a long few days. So I guess he gets a new electric razor from the Easter Bunny.

The kids have been great. I have been so grateful that they are old enough to watch themselves for short periods of time. Brandon is so responsible. We have had such great neighbors, friends, ward members home teachers who gave a blessing the 1st night and his name is in quite a few temples. We feel so blessed for that and just the fact that he is still here. He really was a walking time bomb.

Thank you ALL for your thoughts, prayers, notes and calls. It has helped both Todd -and me get through this. So many of you have offered your help. We will take you up onit if and when we need to - for those of you who we dont call on, please know that we do just really appreciate your offer!

Another reason to love our library

I think that I am addicted to our town library. I go there at least 2 times a week if not more. Brandon is planning to work with the library for his Eagle project this summer. My kids love the library too and that makes me happy. Today I saw Miss Geri, the storytime lady that we always went to. We love her. We try to still look for her when we are there. She remembers the kids and me by name. We have a bond.

Yesterday we got a call from the library that was unexpected. Remember several months ago when Brandon found the money in the Garfield library book and then returned it? Well, -- it turns out the other people never came to pick it up! The library decided to wait for a certain amout of time and then called us to pick it up!! It was a happy day for Brandon boy!! He set aside tithing money - just because he felt grateful to even have the $ and then we headed over to Game Stop -- where else!! He got a game and some book for his DS and then we got a family game for the Wii. It is the Jillian 2009 workout. We will see who uses it the most. I gave then some direction!

So there you go - do the right thing and good things happen!

Our Spring Break

I finished Trevor's t shirt blankie during the big snow storm

Todd recently got a new camping grill/ stove so he has had fun with that!

Spring Break Snow

A few days before the snow!

Todd with his sling. Picture taken with the new laptop.

I just noticed that I have posted 225 posts! Wow. we have been having computer issues and was hoping to be a 2 computer family when we got this new laptop, but would you believe that the very day that we got the laptop the old desk top died. There were some pictures that I had not backed up - I know stupid me - so Iam extra grateful now that I have been blogging the important stuff at least! Our really smart computer friend, Travis, is helping us to recover our stuff. I hope.

We are so stupid with computers. As long as they work when you push the button we are good. Now we are learning how to do a laptop - yes we are behind - and vista and all the rest. Have any of you used Skype? I have seen it before - like on Oprah - and apparently we are set up for it - but we know nothing. I actually got on our REALLY old desktop that was in the basement to see if it was worth anything (nope) and it was so funny to see how much things have changed just in say ten years. Amazing.

Anyhow, we didnt go anywhere for Spring Break, with Todd's surgery and all. It has been nice to be lazy. We went to see Race to Witch Mountain with the kids, we saw Todd's folks (thanks for the button down short sleeved shirts for Todd with his arm!) and the kids and friends all went sledding after the big storm the other day. I will post some before pictures with Christen actually sunbathing and running through the hand sprinklers just a few days before the storm. Crazy. We also spent time with our neighbors, went to a local Catholic church fish fry, watched DVDs, including a marathon of Brady Bunch during the storm, and started the process for Brandon's Eagle project. Todd is feeling better each day, but it is still much slower and a bigger deal than we were expecting. My friend, Melanie, said that her husband has had one shoulder done and needs the other one done but you think twice about doing it again after the first. Now we understand.

Todd's Aunt and Uncle passed away this past week. It was an accident. This was especially sad for us because Aunt Ruth was the one that introduced Todd to me and we were very close to them. Christen was named after this aunt and my mom -- Christen Ruth. I so wish the we could go to the funeral in California but with Todd's recent surgery and expense we are not. They lived in the town where I graduated from High School.

Big ouch!

Todd had his shoulder surgery on Thursday. From a tear in the rotator cuff on the right, ski accident. Everything went well -- especially that first day and night when he was on a nerve block - like an epideral. Saturday night and Sunday were not so good when all of the pain pills did a number on his stomach. The ultimate was when we took the bandages off today. Have you ever seen America's Funniest Videos when they have people wax off chesthair? Oh my -- I though he was really going into shock for a bit there. It was almost funny - but not then for him at least. He has been saying that his shoulder pain has been at about a 2 or 3 out of 10 even without meds now - but when I ripped off the tape off his hairy chest the pain was at a 10! I actually had to remind him to breath through his nose and out his mouth! - and keep talking to me!! Poor Guy! He hopes to go back to work on Wed.