As many of you know, Zachary is preparing to serve a full time mission for the LDS church and will be gone for two years. Zachary turned in his mission papers to our bishop today. He will be called in for an interview with the Stake President very soon. It is getting really super exciting as we are closer to finding out where he will be sent. It is probably just weeks away. I can't wait!
Yesterday, we had someone come to look at the house. It has been on the market for about three months, or thereabouts. While I was gone last night at the R.S. broadcast, they came by for a second look. I am trying not to get too excited, but hope to hear something soon. I guess we were one of two they were torn between. The Realtor called to ask us a couple more questions about the house and he called back again to see if we would be flexible with the move out date. Of course, Doug said yes. So, now we wait and see if they chose our house or the other one. Since we haven't heard anything, I am leaning toward that they chose the other house. I am excited, but nervous too. So...papers? Will we be signing papers? I don't know! I hope we know by tomorrow sometime. The anticipation is killer!
Sunday, September 30, 2012
Saturday, September 29, 2012
Whew! What a year!
I am not great at keeping up with a blog. Life is busy and full and there isn't usually much time for writing. The following is written as best as I can recall.
Last year, about this time, I moved my mother to Pleasant Grove, to be closer to me so I can help her. Prior to moving her, I helped a friend pack up some of her house as she and her family were moving across country. Not to brag, but I was a comfort to her mostly, helping her get through the stress of it all. For about three or four days, if I remember right, I was at her beck and call. It was a great experience and I was glad to help.
My sister came to help pack up my mom's house. We got quite a bit done together, but there was still more to pack. I was able to get it all done and organized by the time the movers came. We got everything loaded, my brother-in-law, my sister, some of their kids, ward members, friends, and myself. It went pretty fast! I believe it was the next morning that we left early and headed for Pleasant Grove. We made pretty good time and things were pretty uneventful. We got to P.G. and Wayne, Ben, Doug, some of my boys, a good member from our ward, Brother Washburn, and myself, unloaded mom's things into her apartment and into storage. Then, Wayne and Ben had to fly back home. I cannot remember all the small details, but they were big to me at the time. I was and am very grateful for the help that was received at that time, by everyone who pitched in.
Mom has had some troubles and has for many years. So much so, that many of us have had a hard time believing that there was anything wrong. She was in the hospital in November, last year, and everything was found to be "normal". With all the testing that was done, I kept trying to encourage her through it all.
Month after month, trial after trial, plugging along... Doug and I decided that it was best to put our house up for sale and have her move in with us. But, as to this day, our house still hasn't sold. So, I am not sure what we will do at this point.
Over the course of months this year, things seemed to get pushed back further and further. Doug had to rebuild the deck on our back porch. It was in bad shape. One day after inspecting it, he found that there was little to nothing even holding it up. After much research, calculations, and hard work, that major project was finally finished. It took much longer than anticipated. Months! In the meantime, I spent much of my time packing up each room of the house. I tried only to include the necessary items that would help to "stage" the house to sell and put everything else in storage. Because Doug had to work and the kids were in school, I did most of the work myself. It was hard and draining, yet I felt very compelled that this was the right thing to do.
After painting some, getting new carpet installed in the family room, and cleaning out the wazoo, the house was finally ready and we put in on the market in July. It was WAY beyond our goal, but we decided to go ahead with it.
During all the preparation to get the house on the market, our oldest son began having seizures again. He had them when he was 12, but has been seizure free for almost 7 years. This has been quite hard on him and very frustrating. The first one came in April while he was at work. During the seizure, he fell and hit his head on a table and his glasses slid into his forehead, gashing it open, and when I got to him, he was a bloody mess. The paramedics were called and he was taken to the hospital by ambulance for a CT scan to make sure he didn't have a brain bleed. Everything came back normal and he was stitched up and sent home.
The next week, he was seen by a neurologist and put back on medication. But, that didn' stop the seizures. He had his second one in May. This time when he fell, he broke and dislocated his right shoulder. So, off to the ER we went and his shoulder was set and we were sent back home. It was about 7 or so weeks and an increase in medication later, that he had yet another seizure. This time, it happened at home and he was found by his brother Joshua. He fell in his room, on what-we never determined. Doug got to him before I did. I was at my mom's helping her. I was called and rushed home to find that Robbie had landed on his face and had gashed his eyelid open, barely missing his eyeball, and also cutting open his forehead. Once again, we were off to the ER to have him stitched up. He was a mess! (Remember, head wounds are very bloody!)
As a mom, you worry about your kids. No matter how old they are! Rob is 20. He is 6 foot 9 and a half! That is a long ways down to fall! At this point, I was feeling like he should be wrapped in bubble wrap and wear a helmet! Poor guy!
Robbie is still not out of the woods. He has since had two more seizures that have left him unscathed, thankfully. But, it has been very frustrating to him and to me as all test results have come back "normal". He has had his medication doses increased, another pill added, and we still don't have any idea why this is happening again. We are told he is classified as an epileptic because he has had more than one seizure and basically to go home, take his meds, and deal with it. It is his life. This is not acceptable to me, but I don't have any other option than to do exactly that. It is very frustrating! As a mother, you want to give your kids answers to their questions, make their "owies" all better. But, I can't!
Speaking of "owies", we have also had three sprained ankles this year and little Jacob has had to endure several casts on his foot, for correction of his club foot that he has had since birth. After several castings, hoping to stretch his achilles tendon, it was determined that they were unsuccessful this round and he had surgery 6 or so weeks ago to release that tendon. He is scheduled to get his final cast off on Monday, next week. I hope he isn't too tight in that heel now. I guess we'll see.
Back in July, Doug was going out to the fridge in the garage to get milk for dinner and fell down the stairs. He broke his big toe and it required surgery. A screw was placed as well as a pin. He got the pin removed a few weeks ago and will go back to the doctor next week to check the healing.
I guess it has been about three weeks ago now, I got a call one morning from my mom's in-home-health nurse to say that mom was being transported to American Fork Hospital. She couldn't get up to let the nurse in because she was in so much pain. And, as standard protocol, he had to have her sent in for observation. It probably sounds bad, though it is not meant to be, that I thought it was going to be "much of the same" as in times past; where they would run a bunch of tests and find nothing. So, I took my time getting to the hospital, hoping that by the time I arrived, they would know what was going on. Doug was out of town on business and I had to get all the kids off to school. So, once I was done with that, I got to the hospital.
After sitting with mom for a while, they finally came in and took her in for an MRI of her neck to see why she was having so much pain. They found that she had herniated discs in her neck, impinging on her spinal cord. So, as soon as I knew it, they were transporting her to Utah Valley Regional for surgery.
I felt bad for thinking what I had. Mom had a terrible fall about a year after my dad passed away. (Almost 8 years ago.) She slipped on some black ice outside of her front door. She said she had been knocked out for several minutes. She went to her doctor and several other's over the years and no one would believe her or help her. She has suffered for a very long time. Back in November, she was told at some point, she broke her lower back. I saw it for myself on a CT scan. But, it had healed; improperly, but it was healed. I had been taking her to the chiropractor this summer for several visits. We had x-rays taken, but the herniated discs were never identified. So, she kept going for treatments, hoping for some relief and sometimes feeling it. But, at one point, it just kept getting worse.
As I was saying, finally, after being in the hospital for a couple days, she ended up going in for the surgery and had three vertebrae fused and a partial disc-ectomy. After one day of recovery, they sent her home. (That was a mistake!) She wasn't very strong on her feet, which made me very nervous, and for good reason. I stayed with her, thank goodness! That night, she fell and I had to call for paramedics to come and help me get her up. I was really scared that she hurt herself and had undone what she had waited for so long to get help to fixed. But, as they got her up, it was apparent that she was fine and just needed to rest. I stayed with her for two nights, on the couch, so she wouldn't be alone. It was a couple of really long nights, but I was glad to be there with her. She had a hard time sleeping and needed someone there, for love and reassurance.
It is interesting how soon there has been a role-reversal in my life. I didn't imagine that I would be taking care of my mother this soon. And, she is very dependent, like a young child who needs their mother. She will call me early in the morning if she had a bad dream. Or, if she needs me. Most of the time I don't mind. She is very lonely and needs to be loved. She misses my dad terribly and loves the association of her family.
I am not sure what the future holds, but I love my mom and I am committed to do whatever I can to help her and show her the love and respect she is deserving of.
I am so thankful for the knowledge I have as a daughter of God and a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Heavenly Father knows each one of us, by name, personally and individually, and knows what we can handle. It has been quite a remarkable year! There have been many tests and trials; physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. But, I am thankful for every one of them. I know that they strengthen my faith and draw me closer to my Heavenly Father and my Savior, Jesus Christ. My trials are my own. They have not been "earth shattering" or "life changing" too much, if you want to compare them to others' trials. I will take what I have been given and be grateful. And, I am.
Now, as far as what to do about the house? That remains to be seen. I think we are going to pull the listing and wait until the Spring. Maybe.
I am having some health concerns that I am not legally able to define in this setting. But, I hope to have some answers and some things accomplished to help them improve very soon. Perhaps that is why we are not selling right now. I don't know.
But, on the very bright side of things, Zachary is preparing to go to serve the Lord on a two-year, LDS mission. He had his wisdom teeth pulled last week, fillings yesterday, and is awaiting appointments with our Bishop and Stake President to get those underway. He could potentially have his call by the end of October. I am SO excited and So very proud of him!
Oh, what a year this has been! And, we have three more months to go! It will be interesting to see what lies ahead and where we will end up. Sometimes, the test is to see if we will listen and follow through with the promptings we receive. Also, how we endure the test. My perspective has been, that my life is in the Lord's hands. He will help me and guide my paths. Nothing we do in this life is wasted. It all gives us experience and is for our own good. So, I will plug along and do the best that I can, however insignificant I seem to feel, I must remember that my Father and my Brother know me and they love me, and are with me every step of the way.
Last year, about this time, I moved my mother to Pleasant Grove, to be closer to me so I can help her. Prior to moving her, I helped a friend pack up some of her house as she and her family were moving across country. Not to brag, but I was a comfort to her mostly, helping her get through the stress of it all. For about three or four days, if I remember right, I was at her beck and call. It was a great experience and I was glad to help.
My sister came to help pack up my mom's house. We got quite a bit done together, but there was still more to pack. I was able to get it all done and organized by the time the movers came. We got everything loaded, my brother-in-law, my sister, some of their kids, ward members, friends, and myself. It went pretty fast! I believe it was the next morning that we left early and headed for Pleasant Grove. We made pretty good time and things were pretty uneventful. We got to P.G. and Wayne, Ben, Doug, some of my boys, a good member from our ward, Brother Washburn, and myself, unloaded mom's things into her apartment and into storage. Then, Wayne and Ben had to fly back home. I cannot remember all the small details, but they were big to me at the time. I was and am very grateful for the help that was received at that time, by everyone who pitched in.
Mom has had some troubles and has for many years. So much so, that many of us have had a hard time believing that there was anything wrong. She was in the hospital in November, last year, and everything was found to be "normal". With all the testing that was done, I kept trying to encourage her through it all.
Month after month, trial after trial, plugging along... Doug and I decided that it was best to put our house up for sale and have her move in with us. But, as to this day, our house still hasn't sold. So, I am not sure what we will do at this point.
Over the course of months this year, things seemed to get pushed back further and further. Doug had to rebuild the deck on our back porch. It was in bad shape. One day after inspecting it, he found that there was little to nothing even holding it up. After much research, calculations, and hard work, that major project was finally finished. It took much longer than anticipated. Months! In the meantime, I spent much of my time packing up each room of the house. I tried only to include the necessary items that would help to "stage" the house to sell and put everything else in storage. Because Doug had to work and the kids were in school, I did most of the work myself. It was hard and draining, yet I felt very compelled that this was the right thing to do.
After painting some, getting new carpet installed in the family room, and cleaning out the wazoo, the house was finally ready and we put in on the market in July. It was WAY beyond our goal, but we decided to go ahead with it.
During all the preparation to get the house on the market, our oldest son began having seizures again. He had them when he was 12, but has been seizure free for almost 7 years. This has been quite hard on him and very frustrating. The first one came in April while he was at work. During the seizure, he fell and hit his head on a table and his glasses slid into his forehead, gashing it open, and when I got to him, he was a bloody mess. The paramedics were called and he was taken to the hospital by ambulance for a CT scan to make sure he didn't have a brain bleed. Everything came back normal and he was stitched up and sent home.
The next week, he was seen by a neurologist and put back on medication. But, that didn' stop the seizures. He had his second one in May. This time when he fell, he broke and dislocated his right shoulder. So, off to the ER we went and his shoulder was set and we were sent back home. It was about 7 or so weeks and an increase in medication later, that he had yet another seizure. This time, it happened at home and he was found by his brother Joshua. He fell in his room, on what-we never determined. Doug got to him before I did. I was at my mom's helping her. I was called and rushed home to find that Robbie had landed on his face and had gashed his eyelid open, barely missing his eyeball, and also cutting open his forehead. Once again, we were off to the ER to have him stitched up. He was a mess! (Remember, head wounds are very bloody!)
As a mom, you worry about your kids. No matter how old they are! Rob is 20. He is 6 foot 9 and a half! That is a long ways down to fall! At this point, I was feeling like he should be wrapped in bubble wrap and wear a helmet! Poor guy!
Robbie is still not out of the woods. He has since had two more seizures that have left him unscathed, thankfully. But, it has been very frustrating to him and to me as all test results have come back "normal". He has had his medication doses increased, another pill added, and we still don't have any idea why this is happening again. We are told he is classified as an epileptic because he has had more than one seizure and basically to go home, take his meds, and deal with it. It is his life. This is not acceptable to me, but I don't have any other option than to do exactly that. It is very frustrating! As a mother, you want to give your kids answers to their questions, make their "owies" all better. But, I can't!
Speaking of "owies", we have also had three sprained ankles this year and little Jacob has had to endure several casts on his foot, for correction of his club foot that he has had since birth. After several castings, hoping to stretch his achilles tendon, it was determined that they were unsuccessful this round and he had surgery 6 or so weeks ago to release that tendon. He is scheduled to get his final cast off on Monday, next week. I hope he isn't too tight in that heel now. I guess we'll see.
Back in July, Doug was going out to the fridge in the garage to get milk for dinner and fell down the stairs. He broke his big toe and it required surgery. A screw was placed as well as a pin. He got the pin removed a few weeks ago and will go back to the doctor next week to check the healing.
I guess it has been about three weeks ago now, I got a call one morning from my mom's in-home-health nurse to say that mom was being transported to American Fork Hospital. She couldn't get up to let the nurse in because she was in so much pain. And, as standard protocol, he had to have her sent in for observation. It probably sounds bad, though it is not meant to be, that I thought it was going to be "much of the same" as in times past; where they would run a bunch of tests and find nothing. So, I took my time getting to the hospital, hoping that by the time I arrived, they would know what was going on. Doug was out of town on business and I had to get all the kids off to school. So, once I was done with that, I got to the hospital.
After sitting with mom for a while, they finally came in and took her in for an MRI of her neck to see why she was having so much pain. They found that she had herniated discs in her neck, impinging on her spinal cord. So, as soon as I knew it, they were transporting her to Utah Valley Regional for surgery.
I felt bad for thinking what I had. Mom had a terrible fall about a year after my dad passed away. (Almost 8 years ago.) She slipped on some black ice outside of her front door. She said she had been knocked out for several minutes. She went to her doctor and several other's over the years and no one would believe her or help her. She has suffered for a very long time. Back in November, she was told at some point, she broke her lower back. I saw it for myself on a CT scan. But, it had healed; improperly, but it was healed. I had been taking her to the chiropractor this summer for several visits. We had x-rays taken, but the herniated discs were never identified. So, she kept going for treatments, hoping for some relief and sometimes feeling it. But, at one point, it just kept getting worse.
As I was saying, finally, after being in the hospital for a couple days, she ended up going in for the surgery and had three vertebrae fused and a partial disc-ectomy. After one day of recovery, they sent her home. (That was a mistake!) She wasn't very strong on her feet, which made me very nervous, and for good reason. I stayed with her, thank goodness! That night, she fell and I had to call for paramedics to come and help me get her up. I was really scared that she hurt herself and had undone what she had waited for so long to get help to fixed. But, as they got her up, it was apparent that she was fine and just needed to rest. I stayed with her for two nights, on the couch, so she wouldn't be alone. It was a couple of really long nights, but I was glad to be there with her. She had a hard time sleeping and needed someone there, for love and reassurance.
It is interesting how soon there has been a role-reversal in my life. I didn't imagine that I would be taking care of my mother this soon. And, she is very dependent, like a young child who needs their mother. She will call me early in the morning if she had a bad dream. Or, if she needs me. Most of the time I don't mind. She is very lonely and needs to be loved. She misses my dad terribly and loves the association of her family.
I am not sure what the future holds, but I love my mom and I am committed to do whatever I can to help her and show her the love and respect she is deserving of.
I am so thankful for the knowledge I have as a daughter of God and a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Heavenly Father knows each one of us, by name, personally and individually, and knows what we can handle. It has been quite a remarkable year! There have been many tests and trials; physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. But, I am thankful for every one of them. I know that they strengthen my faith and draw me closer to my Heavenly Father and my Savior, Jesus Christ. My trials are my own. They have not been "earth shattering" or "life changing" too much, if you want to compare them to others' trials. I will take what I have been given and be grateful. And, I am.
Now, as far as what to do about the house? That remains to be seen. I think we are going to pull the listing and wait until the Spring. Maybe.
I am having some health concerns that I am not legally able to define in this setting. But, I hope to have some answers and some things accomplished to help them improve very soon. Perhaps that is why we are not selling right now. I don't know.
But, on the very bright side of things, Zachary is preparing to go to serve the Lord on a two-year, LDS mission. He had his wisdom teeth pulled last week, fillings yesterday, and is awaiting appointments with our Bishop and Stake President to get those underway. He could potentially have his call by the end of October. I am SO excited and So very proud of him!
Oh, what a year this has been! And, we have three more months to go! It will be interesting to see what lies ahead and where we will end up. Sometimes, the test is to see if we will listen and follow through with the promptings we receive. Also, how we endure the test. My perspective has been, that my life is in the Lord's hands. He will help me and guide my paths. Nothing we do in this life is wasted. It all gives us experience and is for our own good. So, I will plug along and do the best that I can, however insignificant I seem to feel, I must remember that my Father and my Brother know me and they love me, and are with me every step of the way.
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