The Past Few Days

We went to Vegas last Wednesday for Frank's Rheumatogolist appointment.  We ended up having to race to get there on time.  We didn't realize that we were low on gas and had to stop to get gas, and before we knew it we were running short of time.  We had to drive from Logandale all the way over to Eastern close to Henderson.  We got there just in time, in fact Frank didn't have time to sit down.  Dr. Jianu keeps right on schedule and that is one thing we really like about him.  It is going to be a wait and see game to see if Frank getting off from his Crestor will make a difference in his muscle pain. I have noticed that he hasn't complained about his legs hurting.

I had an appointment with my nail place and when I was through, I called Frank to come and get me.  All of a sudden, my stomach started to rumble and I was glad to see him come so I could get back to Sherry's condo and be close to a bathroom.  We had eaten at Del Taco and evidently something was bad as I ended up being really sick and stayed at Sherry's until late in the evening.  Renee brought Rozlynn over and it was fun seeing her, but I couldn't even enjoy playing with her, as all I was doing was running to the bathroom.  I told everyone that I could have had a colonoscopy.  Finally we were able to head for home, as I needed to eat some soup and take my medicines.  We didn't get home until almost 9:PM.

Saturday, Frank went to the Post Office and store for me, and he bumped into our granddaughter Kristen and our G. granddaughter Ash who asked Frank to come to her soccer game.  How could he refuse?  So we went to Moapa for her game and it was at 1:00 PM.  It was so dang hot the kids were sweating and were red faced.  Way too hot to be playing soccer for such young girls.  Luckily the game didn't last too long, as I was getting over heated too.  Hopefully, the weather will be cooler for the next game.

I went to bed around 10:30 PM and woke up around 11:30 PM to Frank tossing and turning.  He was having some serious pain issues.  He had tried to omit his noon pain pill, and then sitting at the soccer game must not have been a good thing as we were sitting in lawn chairs. Well, to cut a long story short, he finally went to sleep around 2:30 AM and then I was able to fall asleep soon after.  Needless to say, the next morning, Sunday, we were exhausted and didn't go to church. I feel so bad for Frank when he has that kind of pain issues. 

Sherry had come home Saturday night, so I had her come to dinner Sunday.  I made a big pot of hamburger soup.  Then she hung around and we visited all afternoon long, and later we went for a ride to see all the homes that were for sale.  I had her take me to the home where my neighbors are moving so I will know where they will be.

Renee called me early Monday morning, and I could tell something was wrong.  I asked her what was wrong, and she said "Rozlynn was kicked out of daycare."  I said what?!!!! and she proceeded to tell me that Rozylnn had bitten one of the other kids and it had left a bruise.  Of course the mother was upset about it, so Rozlynn has to go.  Renee loves Mrs. Bird the lady who runs the daycare and was in tears over the whole thing.  Long story short Rozlynn can stay there the rest of the week, and Renee checked into other daycare places, and found one that is in a class room setting and Rozlynn will actually learn things.  So Renee sounded a lot happier when I talked to her that night.  Rozlynn had to learn the biting thing at daycare.  It is the only way she can let the other kids know she is unhappy about what ever is going on between them. Mrs. Bird said that is why she has to go as she is too young to understand and work with.  She told Renee when she is 2 1/2 she could bring her back. 

I looked high and low for the bill

Today, I was making out bills and realized that my property tax bill I had all ready made out and was in a stamped envelope was missing from my desk.  My desk had gotten a little messy, and I searched everywhere for the bill, even in the garbage.  I decided that I needed to clean up my desk, and get rid of a lot of paper stuff.  I have a lot of genealogy folders, and other junk that I had laying around. Frank brought in a big garbage can and I proceeded to go through everything and throw away a ton of stuff. Three hours later, I hadn't found the bill.  I guess I will have to call the Clark Co. Treasures office and see if they received my payment.  I may have to make out another check and mail it to them. I am thinking that I may have picked up the bill when I was taking some other bills to mail and hopefully mailed it.  I really don't remember seeing it.  Darn!!!!!! I hate it when I do stuff like this.

I have to add that I called the tax line today, and my check had posted yesterday.  Yea!!!!! Now I can stop worrying about it.  I swear old age is causing memory lapses, I don't remember mailing the bill. The good thing is that I have a shiny clean desk.

Yosemite Trip - Sad News

I'm going to start with the sad news.  Sunday my neighbor Wendy came over and knocked on my door, as soon as I saw her, I knew something was wrong.  She started out by saying that she wanted to tell me they were moving and that she wanted to be the one who told me before I found it out from someone else.  I asked where were they moving to.  Her answer was.... just a short distance from where we live.  I thought maybe they were moving to Parawon where Kyle's parents live as they had talked about moving there a while back.  We both were in tears and We didn't get to talk very long as it was time to get ready for church.

I was so sad to hear the news as Wendy and Kyle have been our neighbors for almost seven years.  Their kids call us grandma and grandpa and it has been fun watching them grow.  Wendy and Kyle have been so good to us doing all kinds of good deeds when Frank had his surgeries, and during illness.  We visit over the fence, and Kyle has helped Frank with his boat and always there to give a helping hand when needed. 

Wendy drove over to the Mesquite hospital when Frank was in the emergency room, and I was told he had a mass in his stomach.  Turned out to be a wrong diagnoses, but when Wendy found out I was there alone, she hopped in her car leaving her family at dinner time and drove 45 miles to Mesquite and waited with me until my family came. I could go on and on about the things they have done for us, but I will just say they have been the best neighbors we have ever had. 

The reason they have to move is that this bad economy has caught up with them.  Kyle lost his job a while back and when he did get another job, they were behind on payments and the new job didn't pay as much as his old job.  They tried to get the bank to work with them, short sale, etc. but nothing came out of it.  So they lost their home, and can be added to the other young couples in our sub-division who have lost their homes. 

We feel so bad for them and for us to lose them as our neighbors.  It will never be the same even though they will live a few minutes away, they might as well live in another town, as we won't see them very often.  They will go to another ward so we won't get to see them in church any more.

YOSEMITE VACATION

Birdaveil Falls

Taking a break on the trail to the falls

Frank found a granite rock to sit on

Yosemetie Falls

We came back to our truck and found a surprise

The lodge where we stayed

Frank and I headed to Yosemite last Tuesday morning.  We took two days to get up there.  We decided to drive to Bakersfield, CA and spend the night there.  We were getting tired and decided to try and find a motel before Bakersfield.  We noticed that there was a lot of smoke in the air and when we drove into a small town called Tehachapi we saw all kinds of fire trucks, and even a camp of pup tents set up for the firefighters.   We soon found out that there were no rooms available as they were all taken up by the firefighters who were fighting a fire in the mountains.  So we drove to Bakersfield, and when we pulled into a Hampton Inn there were a lot of fire trucks in the parking lot.  I thought to myself "Oh no we are in trouble."  So as Frank went into the hotel to see if by some slim chance there were any rooms, I started to pray, "Oh please let there be a room for us."  Frank told me when he went in he put his hand in a praying position and begged to the desk clerk, please let there be a room..  She told him that there weren't any rooms available in the whole town, and said the next hotel would be in the next town.  Frank asked her to call and see if there was a room, and she did and guess what no surprise....there wasn't.  Then she must have felt sorry for us and she talked with another desk clerk and they came up with a suite,  which Frank quickly said, "We will take it." It was a beautiful suite, and we gladly paid the higher price for it. 

We had a wonderful time, and enjoyed the scenery of the high granite mountains of Yosemite and falls every where.  I bet it is quite a sight to see in the spring when water is running at a higher volume.  The only thing I would do different if we ever went again, would be to take a bigger ice chest with some food.  As the restaurants are very expensive, and it is in a remote area so they really take advantage of this and charge an arm and a leg for everything.

We drove home on Friday and decided to not stop and break up the trip.  We were anxious to get home and 12 hours later we made it home.  We unpacked and put things away, and I headed to my wonderful comfy bed, saying to myself  "There is no place like home."

The Wedding - Family

Yesterday we went to St. George for my cousin's wedding.  I had this gut feeling that I should verify the time with my Cousin Penny, and dummy me didn't listen to that gut feeling.  Big mistake......as we ended up missing the wedding ceremony. 

When we walked in, I knew we had missed something as they were taking pictures and not too many people were there.  Penny came up to us and said "there you are, we were worried about you, you missed the wedding ceremony."  I was so disappointed, but at least we got to see family we don't get to see very often.

When we were trying to find the chapel where the wedding was held, I noticed my cousin John walking outside the chapel, so I knew it was the right place.  I noticed that he looked thinner from a distance, and was excited to see him there as I haven't seen him in quite some time.  He and Lorri K. came into the area where the wedding was being held, and Lorri invited us to go back to her home. John had been experiencing some blood pressure problems and needed to go and rest for a while.

When we walked into the wedding and sat down, my five year old cousin, Kambrie (I feel more like a grandma or Aunt to her) saw me and I saw her eyes light up and she came running over to give me a hug and visit with me.  It made me feel so good that she remembered me.  Doug, Penny's X, invited us to sit with them at their table so we did.  It is kind of funny because Frank, is one of Penny's X's so there were two X's and her husband all sitting and visiting together.  It is great that we all get along.  Doug said he should have made arrangements for them to play golf, as they all love golf.  Poor Frank can't golf at least for the time being.  He won't be able to golf ever again, unless he has some miracle happen with his back and PMR getting better. He wants to golf so badly, and really misses it.

We left and went over to Lorri's home so we could visit with John, and his wife Rose.  I was shocked to see John as he had really lost a lot of weight, which he really needed to do. He was wearing some kind of a heart monitor and to me looked pale and well just not very healthy.  He is only 58, but has smoked and lived in a smoked filled home all of his life.  He has tried to quit several times, but has been unsuccessful.  I told Frank that we may out live him.  He has been passing out from low blood pressure, and had a gash on his head from one of those passing out episodes.  He had fallen in his shop and hit a table.  So that is why the doctor is having him wear a heart monitor to see what is going on.

It was great to see and visit with Lorri K., John, and Rose.  Lorri made us a sandwich plate as she knew we had missed the wedding dinner.  She is such good hostess.  After visiting for a while, we decided to go back to the reception.  We got there just as the bride and groom were doing their first dance.  Then bubbles and sparklers were handed out and everyone went out side and lined up making an aisle for the newly wedded couple to walk down.  I was so surprised to see them walk down to a wheel barrow and Kenzey was put into it and the groom wheeled her down to their truck. It was so cute.  Everyone followed them and they drove off.  They took off just in time as it started to rain, and everyone was just enjoying the coolness of the night.  I told Frank "I sure hope this follows us home."  We left and kept our car windows down and just enjoyed the fresh rain smell, and the natural cool breeze. 

Unfortunately the coolness and rain didn't follow us home, but it did rain this morning around 1:30 A.M. as thunder, lightening, and rain woke me up.  I opened the door to see if it had cooled down any, and it was like opening a door to a sauna.  We slept in and was so tired, we decided to stay home from church. We went to Vegas last Thursday for a hair day with Renee, and we were able to see her new home, and we got to play with Rozlynn for a while.  We spent the night, and it was a miserable night as Frank was snoring and making all kinds of noises, and we both got too hot.  I went out on the couch for a while and Ozzie decided I was there to play with.  So needless to say, I didn't get any sleep that night.  I all most didn't go to the wedding because I felt so exhausted, but I sure am glad I did.  I would have missed out on seeing family that I may not see again for some time.

Wedding Shower & Trip To Vegas

A week ago Frank and I went to St. George so I could attend my cousin's wedding shower.  I almost didn't go because I had been feeling under the weather.  I decided I was feeling better and I wanted to go and see my St. George cousins.  We stopped in Mesquite at Del Taco and had some tacos to hold us over.  I told Frank that every family event we go to it's always late getting started so I wasn't to worried about being on time.  We are usually early for most things we go to.  When we got there, I told Frank "well this is a first, we are almost 45 minutes late."  He said "tell them you are fashionably late." 

When I got there the girls were in groups and were working on charts using candy bars and making cute remarks that would later be read aloud and it was about the groom.  We had a good laugh at all the cute remarks.  Then we had fun making home made bath salts, and the room had all kinds of scents as everyone chose their favorite oil. Lorri was the one who put the shower together, and she had gone all out...making heart shaped cookies, heart shaped fruit, chicken salad sandwiches, cute decorations, etc.  She was the head of the St. George Chamber, and this was right up her alley, planning events. The theme was Princess Bride.

I had a lot of fun playing with Tiff's little girl, Kambrie.  She and her older sister Afton Kate helped me with my bath salts, and for some reason Kambrie hit it off with me.  We played ball, and then she decided to play beautician and played with my hair.  I didn't mind as I love having my hair played with.  She kept telling me that what ever she was doing was beautiful.  I felt like an egg beater had been in my hair, but everyone said surprisingly how good of a job she did.  She made my day by telling me that she loved me, I told her I loved her back.  I am sure glad I went.  On September 10th I will get to see more of the family as that is the big wedding day and we are planning on going.

LAS VEGAS VISIT WITH FAMILY

Frank had a Rheumatolgoist appointment last Friday so I decided it was time to have my monthly pedicure and manicure.  We went in Thursday and had an early lunch and then I went to the nail place.  Frank picked me up a couple of hours later, and we went to Sherry's condo to kick back.  I got in touch with Renee and we decided to meet at Red Robin for dinner. I was so disappointed as I was looking forward to salad and clam chowder.  I love Red Robin's clam chowder.  The waitress brought my salad and said they were making a new batch of chowder.  When she brought the chowder, much to my disappointment it was runny like milk.  I didn't complain until the waitress came to clear off the table.  I think she knew and any way they didn't charge us for my dinner.  I still would have rather paid and had the clam chowder I was craving.



She is getting tired and wants out of her highchair

 


Rozylynn saying Cheese!!!!

When Frank started taking pictures, much to our surprise Roz said Cheese.  We had a good laugh at this...she is coming up with all kinds of new words.

Rozlynn showing off her Tutu

Please take me out of this chair

Renee

We visited and ate and then headed back to Sherry's condo and visited some more.  Rozlynn ran around giving everyone kisses and hugs.  She is so affectionate.  She called Frank Papa, and wasn't quite sure what to call me as Grandma is confusing to her as that is Sherry.  I told Renee maybe we should teach her to call me Granny, but I am so used to calling myself grandma to her so that may be a little hard to get used to.

Friday Doctor's Visit

Friday moring we headed to the doctor's office.  After talking to the doctor for several minutes and the doctor trying to decide if Frank needed to up his Cortisone pills.  Frank told the doctor that he wasn't having any improvements with his pain.  I asked the doctor if it could be Frank's pain medicines causing the pain?  Then when the doctor was going through Frank's prescriptions and found out he was taking Crestor for cholesterol, he said that could be causing the pain and to go off from Crestor.  I just hope and pray that it hasn't caused permanent muscle damage.  We came home early from church today as Frank's back was hurting and I was coming home to eat.

Frank decided to go off from his Cortisone and Crestor both and see what happens.  I had to go off from Lipitor because it was making me sick, and I think it was causing some muscle pain for me too.  All drugs and OTC meds have side affects.  The doctor did blood work to see what the inflammation markers were, and Frank will see him in three weeks instead of two as we are going on vacation, and I can't wait to get a way for a few days.  We are going to Yosemite for a few days.

Braxton's 1st Birthday Party

Yumm my first taste of Birthday cake

Uncle Shiloh playing with Brax

Mom & Brax

Brax loves to ride on Dad's shoulders

Brax loves his new bike from Grandma Lori

Yesterday Bret, Laura, Sierra, and us all loaded up in our car and headed to Mesquite to Robyn and Eric's for Braxton's birthday party.  We stopped at Walmart to get Braxton a birthday gift.  Bret & Laura bought him a really cute play cell phone, and I bought him a learning ball that plays music, and also has things that help kids learn. Laura wrapped the presents in the back of our car and then we headed to the party. I can't believe that a year has gone by. Time just keeps flying by.  Braxton is my g grandson and a great joy in my life.

Elmo Birthday Cake

   

Trying to help Brax blow out the candles

Robyn made Braxton's birthday cake, it was really cute and yummy.




Grandma Lori & Brax

 

Grandma Lori had a lot of fun with Brax.  She had him walking to her, and it won't be long before he will be walking all over the place.  He was trying to follow his Dad every where he went.  I am sure he is a Daddy's boy.  

Daddy playing with Braxton's toys



I don't know who was having more fun playing with all the new toys Eric or Brax.  Daddy is playing with the ball that we bought Braxton.  Eric is such a good father.  He fed Braxton some lunch while everyone else was eating the good chili and corn bread that Robyn made.  Robyn had to make another batch as there wasn't any left for Eric.  The first batch she made took forever as she made it with brown rice and it took forever for the rice to cook.  The second batch went faster as she had some pre-cooked brown rice.

Robyn helping Brax un-wrap the toys



Robyn opened the gifts for Braxton, and he played with each one.  He loved the toy cell phone that Bret and Laura gave him.  Eric would play with it and Brax would be right there to watch and then Daddy would give it to him and he would play with it. 

We had a wonderful afternoon visiting family, and it was nice to see my grandson Shiloh as I don't get to see hm very often.  I hadn't seen Lori in quite a while and we got to visit too.  Rue a cousin of Robyn was there and it was great to catch up on family with her.  All in all we had a lot of fun, good eating, ending with the cake and ice cream.  I got some baby hugs from Brax and we all left as Frank was hurting and we needed to get him home. 

I just want to add this for Kristie K.'s comment.  In case you drop by to read my blog again, I want to thank you for the nice and thoughtful comment.  Life can be so complicated and hard especially family things.  Sometimes we think we are the only ones going through what ever the problem may be, and in reality everyone has problems within their families.

Yea!!! Dr. Bret is Home

Frank getting ready to go down on the table

Dr. Bret measuring his legs



Now for the treatment

Dr. Bret went on a vacation to Idaho for over a week.  The day after he left, my back was killing me. I have been having this strange thing happening with my back.  When I would go to get up from a chair, or step out of the car, I would have this searing pain hit me on the left side of my low back.  It would make me scream out in pain it was so bad. It was like a knife being twisted in my back, and it would ache after this happened. 

I finally found out what was causing it.  I wear a heal lift and when I had some special Diabetic shoes made, I asked if they could build the lift in my shoe. I knew something was wrong, and after talking to Dr. Bret about it, I decided  to to take out the insert of my shoe and discovered they had made the lift way to high.  So every day that I get on the "dreadmill" I was way out of alignment.  So any way, I made sure that I saw Dr. Bret on his last day before vacation, and sure enough the day he left I had the pain happen again getting up from my chair. So needless to say, I was a happy camper when he came home.  Both Frank and I had a treatment Monday.

On Sunday, I had a surprise visit from Bret and Sierra.  It was great seeing Sierra again as I haven't seen her since school let out.  She was so busy...........first girls camp, then she and her Mom went to California for a Shakespeare work class, and when she got home from that Bret and Laura took her to meet her grandparents in the Salt Lake area. Then she headed back to Idaho to spend time with her Grandma and Grandpa Allen.  We had a really nice visit catching up on all the happenings in our lives.

I was so excited the other day to see a friend who actually is related to my son Garen's wife.  She told me that my grandson Zachary had a mission call, and would be going to Washington DC.  I am so excited, and yet sad that I have to hear everything second hand, and then I won't be able to attend his farewell.  How did things get so bad????? I ask myself.  It is way to late now, the damage is done as my grand kids are all grown up, and at the ages that grand parents aren't on the top of their priority lists to keep in touch with. 

None of them want any thing to do with me, and must think that I am this horrible grandma.  If only they knew the truth.  Maybe some day they will.  I will take blame on my part for some of the things I have said, but there is a whole lot more to the story.  I love my grand kids and I hope someday they will know this, and will know how much I have suffered the loss of them not being a part of my life.   It has been heart breaking for me. I have great grand kids that I have never seen, and another one on the way. I know one thing for sure, I would never say anything bad about their parents to them.  I would never want to be that kind of a person.

I have to say here that I am so grateful for the grand kids that are in my life, and the two great grand babies that I get to see quite often.  I have step grand kids that love me and think of me as their blood grand mother  and I love them very much.  They have been really good to me keeping me in their lives.

Tried A New Recipe

                       

I spent the other day relaxing and reading my condensed Reader's Digest book.  In one of the stories, the main character made fried rice.  To my surprise the recipe was at the end of the novel.  It made my mouth water when I was reading the book, so I decided to try it.

First I had to go to the store and get all the ingredients before I could make it.  That took a couple of days and finally on Saturday I had all the ingredients and went to work chopping and dicing the vegetables that go into it.  I never follow a recipe exactly the way it is written.  Sometimes I don't like something that is in it, or I feel there is an easier way to do it.  What is so neat about this recipe is that you can add veggies that you like.  I think next time I may add zucchini and yellow squash to it. I did add some frozen peas.  Frank wants me to add some water chestnuts next time as that will add a little more crunch to it.

When it was all done I called Frank to come and eat and be my tester for the dish.  We both said it was a keeper.  A few months ago I found another recipe in a novel, and tried it and didn't like it at all, so this one was a pleasant surprise.  I cut the recipe down as this would make way too much for two people. We had it for lunch after Church today and it was still delicious.  Because it has chicken and ham in it all you need is a salad to go with it and you have a complete meal. 

Here is the recipe:

Ingredients:

8 tablespoons butter
1 garlic clove, chopped
1 1/2 cups carrots, chopped
1 large white onion, chopped
1 bunch of green onions, chopped
6 eggs, beaten
Vegetable oil or peanut oil
2 cups boneless chicken, cubed
1 ham steak, cubed
8 cups of cooked rice---Chinese or an American brand rice such as Botan Calrose rice
Soy sauce a little less than 1/4 cup
Salt & Pepper

In a skillet combine 4 tlb of the butter, the chopped garlic, and the carrots.  Cook over medium heat until the carrots are soft but still a little crunchy.  Set mixture aside.  Add 2 tbl of butter to the same skillet and cook the white onions until soft.  Set aside.  Cook the green onions in the remaining butter until soft but still slightly crispy. Set aside. Cook the diced ham in a small amount of oil, being careful not to overcook. Set aside.  Cook the chicken in a small amount of vegetable oil until tender and cooked.  Chicken can be slightly browned, but as always, don't overcook.  Salt to taste and set aside. Scramble the eggs in a clean skillet.

Put the rice in a very large skillet or wok over medium heat.  Add the soy sauce and stir to distribute it through the rice.  Add the rest of the prepared ingredients, stirring as you go, adding the eggs last.  Salt and pepper to taste.