Bill's Surgery

Five days ago Bill had back surgery to open up and fuse two vertabrae in his lower back.  Those 2 vertabrae were 90% closed, pinching off the nerve bundles from the spinal cord.  We had hoped to do it 2 weeks earlier, but were delayed because an irregular heartbeat showed up on an EKG when he was in the operating room.  During the next week, he had an ultrasound, EKG and an angiogram.  We were relieved to find out that there was a weakening in his heart but no blockage so we could proceed with the back surgery. 
The surgery went well and took less than 1 1/2 hours.  The first 2 days in the hospital went well too, Bill had some pain, but he was up and walking the next day.  Then we came home.  Not so good.  He is experiencing more pain and discomfort.  He had some bleeding from the incision yesterday (today it is much better).  He keeps saying that he never knew it was going to be this bad.  Since I have never had back surgery, I can't pretend to know what it is like.  I am sure it is miserable, just like the doctor said it would be initially.  I keep reminding him that this is temporary and that it will get better as he heals. 
His back problems had progressed to the point that it inhibited his ability to walk, travel and do anything that required physical activity.  I am hopeful that it will all be worth it in the next few weeks and months as he recuperates and that he will have much less pain on a daily basis than he has had for the last 10+ years.  We will hope and pray for the best as healing progresses.

Bill's Birthday continued

OK, OK.  I know I messed up.  But it wasn't because I couldn't get the pictures in.  It was some other inept way I have of dealing with technology.  So here are the pictures I was supposed to put into the previous blog.

Last Sunday my sweetheart, Bill, turned 65 years old.  I decided to throw him a semi-surprise birthday party.  He knew that I was doing something, he just didn't know what.  Thanks to Becky's great idea, we turned our home into a Senior Citizen Chinese Buffet.  All the kids and grandkids that live in the area came, as well as some close friends.  Becky and Matt came early and cooked Walnut Shrimp and Beijing Beef.  It was yummy!  Everyone contributed something to the buffet.  We had lettuce wraps, stir fry noodles, fried rice, cookies, brownies, fortune cookies, etc.  It was all great!  Thanks to everyone who helped to make it a success.  Of course we couldn't let the day go by without teasing Bill about his new senior citizen status, so we put up signs around the house like:  "Park walkers and wheelchairs here,"  "Apply Here for Social Security," and "Medicare Line Starts Here."  Bill was surprised at all the work we put into it and he greatly appreciated our efforts and had a memorable 65th birthday.

Here are a few pictures of our fun day:

Gratitude and Cake Making

I know, I know.  Don't faint because I finally wrote on my blog.  It's not easy for me.  I used to love to write, then life happened, kids happened, work happened, no time happened, and finally out of practice happened.  Only I used to do it the old-fashioned way...with paper and pen.  There's something more satisfying about using paper and pen for me than punching computer keys.  Sure the computer is faster and more efficient, but I miss the feel of the pen strokes and seeing the curves of my own cursive writing.  It helped to ground me.  Maybe if I had been born a generation later like my children, I would feel differently.

Anyway, the last two months have been filled with...work.  I am often there for 10 hours a day.  The beginning of the school year always kills me.  There's so much to do and even when you think that you have prepared enough before school begins, it's never enough.  I still end up staying late most days just to stay caught up.  The bad part is all the paperwork required, the good part is the great kids that I teach and the wonderful people that I work with.  For them I am grateful and fulfilled in teaching.  I'm also grateful to have a job.  It has served its purpose in providing for my family when I was a single parent with a work schedule that closely matched my kids and good health insurance. And it has helped Bill and I to make it through the rough times.  It has provided stability.

But work is still just work.  My joy and my life's fulfillment is my family.  It's kind of like making a cake.  I am blessed to have a wonderful husband who loves me and does all that he can to take care of our family.  He is the foundation or bottom layer of the cake.  He works hard and is kind and considerate.  He loves my children as well as his own.  Not easy for many men who take on a second family.  But he makes it look easy.  He likes spending time with the kids and grandkids and finds joy in being a part of their lives.  I have learned from him and seen personal growth in our years together.

And then there are my children ... the second layer of cake.  You are wonderful!  You have saved my life.  You have helped me to stretch and grow beyond what I am naturally capable of.  You will understand what I mean as you raise your own families.  Your variety of personalities and flavors make the cake delicious.  You have chosen wonderful spouses who have added depth to our family.  They help to fill in our gaps and add new flavors like the frosting in the middle of the cake. 

And the grandchildren....  They are the frosting on my gratitude cake.  They make the cake complete.  They are the sweet gooey frosting that is being swirled and shaped even as we speak.  They add color, flavor and decorate the cake in his and her own unique way. 

So that is my Gratitude Cake.  I have been making it my whole life.  I am now putting on the frosting.  How sweet it is!  Our children are working on the first and second layers of their own gratitude cakes.  Keep working on it.  It is worth all the time and effort you will put into it.  Enjoy the process of making your cake.  Laugh at the mistakes that you make, learn from them and continue on.  It will bring you joy and satisfaction. 

Here is a picture of my Gratitude Cake!

Last Days of Freedom

Only a couple more days and then my summer freedom is over.  I do so like being able to plan out my days during the summer.  But alas, I will go back to my regular routine on friday.  There are good things to say about routine though.  It forces you to be more organized.  You know what to expect each day.  You seem to be able to accomplish more things in a shorter period of time and you become better at prioritizing what really needs to be done.  The down side is that you have less thinking time.  (Something I've always enjoyed doing).  You don't get to choose where you go or what you do each day, you are pretty much required to spend a big chunk of the day doing what is expected of you so that you can pay the bills.  You only have snatches of time to cook meals, clean, do the laundry, take the dog out, exercise, do family history work, and spend time with family and friends.  Oh yes, and then there's the stress.  The ever present stress.  That is the part that I hate the most.  Maybe because I'm so OCD.   I guess that is my own fault, but I am working on it.  Maybe by the time I die I will learn how to chill out.

I have thoroughly enjoyed some of my summer highlights. 

 Like visiting all of our kids and grandkids in the Philadelphia area.  We love them and miss them.

It was hard to get Bill to stay off the phone however.

Playing with Jade.  She's still our shlupper pupper!

Going to Farm Country with the grandkids and having a picnic lunch.

Driving to California with John & Krista, Sarah & Mark to see me dad.  We went to the beach, the San Diego Temple and Knotts Berry Farm.  We made crepes and lasagna for my dad.

Scrapbooking with all the grandkids.  They did such an awesome job on their scrapbooks!

Spending time with my mom...going shopping, visiting the emergency room, going to the doctor, and movies with Sharon & Melony.

Hanging out with the girls.  Some of us got together for a Girls Night Sleepover.  It was fun.

Marie's baby shower.  Good fun, good food, great friends and family, and lots of presents!

And last but not least...spending time with my Billy Bob!

So that about sums it up.  My great summer of fun and freedom is over.  But the memories are wonderful.  And Marie can't help but be impressed that I actually added pictures to this blog all on my own!  See!  You can teach an old dog new tricks!

Summer

So, I know it has been a long time since I have blogged ... even longer than Sarah.  So I thought I better say something before they kick me off blogspot.  Here's the tricky thing...I don't have much to say.  I used to write a lot when I was younger.  I mean really write.  When I lived in Minnesota away from family, I would write long letters about the daily adventures and happenings of my wonderful kids.  Now...well, I'm an empty nester and my kids have their own blogs so I find myself tongue-tied, or finger-tied or whatever you want to call it. 

I could write about how I spend most of my days - at work.  But, oh wait.  I can't talk about all the funny and great things that happen at work because of confidentiality.  So I guess that I can say that I love my students and enjoy teaching them.  I love my coworkers.  They make going to work each day a pleasure.  And I feel that the work I do is meaningful.

Becky would say, "Write about the 2 children you have left, Jade and Midnight."  Well, Jade, our 9 year yellow lab, and Midnight, our 8 year old black cat don't give me much to write about.  We haven't had any skunks fall into our window wells recently, only one racoon has invaded our garage in the last month, and it's too early for the deer to come eat the fruit off of our fruit trees.

I could write about planting my garden or I could write about weeding my garden.  Or maybe I could write about cleaning my house and finishing all the unfinished projects that I am trying to get done this summer.  But who wants to hear about that?  Not me.  So I guess that makes me a boring person.  In fact, you are probably bored out of your mind just reading this and will never visit my blog again, right?

OK.  I just thought of something to write about...our trip to Pennsylvania to visit our kids and grandkids there and our upcoming trip to visit my dad in California.  Now if I could just remember how Marie told me to add pictures....

School Dazed!

I just completed my first two weeks back teaching school. The kids are as cute and adorable as ever and I am back in my typical pattern of feeling stressed as I try to juggle all the work that has to be done at the beginning of the year and keeping my home somewhat in order. Then this happens to be a year when I also got a cold within the first week and a half. For many people that isn't such a big deal, you just tell yourself to stay home and get well. Not so easy at the beginning of a school year when you are trying to get yourself and all your students into a workable routine. Having even one adult gone makes such a big difference. The good news is that I am finally on the mend. (Thank goodness for Alka Seltzer PM! It let me get a good night's sleep for the past 4 nights so that I could get up and go to work).
I am looking forward to our 3 day weekend. I am also looking forward to seeing all my children (at least the ones that live in Utah) come over for a Labor Day BBQ. I love having my children and grandchildren come over and enjoy the closeness of family. I am so proud of all of our kids and what they are accomplishing in their lives, as well as the kind of parents they are as they raise our next generation of grandchildren. What is more important than that...nothing!
So even though I may be a little "school dazed", like a deer in the headlights of your car, I can enjoy the little moments in life when I can connect with those I love.