Family Visit - Grandson & My Brother

My Brother Allen had a job in Cedar City, UT last Thursday and he called me to see if we could meet him for dinner.  We decided on Red Lobster in St. George so he wouldn't have to travel so far as he had to go back to Salt Lake the same day. 

Lorri my cousin who lives in St. George met us at Red Lobster and had dinner with us.  It was a nice surprise for us all as I hadn't seen Lorri in a long time, and as far as that goes I hadn't seen Allen since the family reunion in Salt Lake.  We had a nice visit while eating dinner, and then we visited for another hour or so outside.  Allen wants to come down over the Memorial holiday weekend, and I have invited Lorri, her sister Penny and her husband, and Bret's family for dinner on the 27th.  Sherry won't be able to make it and is so disappointed, but she can't get off work on a holiday weekend.

Then on the following Friday evening, we met our Grandson Tony and his Dad Shane at Casa Blanca for dinner.  Tony just graduated from Idaho State and is going to work with his Dad for a while.

Newly College Graduate

Tony was able to visit his mom in Vegas for a couple of days.  Since he and his dad will be traveling all over the place.  It will be a long time before we see them again.  That made us feel a little sad. Tony and Shane dropped by on Sunday to visit one more time before hitting the road.

This is the rig Tony and his Dad are traveling in.  Shane is in the recyclable business of tractor trailers, and tires among other things.  He spends most of his time in Indianapolis as that is where his biggest hub is for his business. They were headed to California to pick up some trailers and tires and then they were headed for Indianapolis.  This rig is a lot longer than the picture shows.   


UPDATE ON FRANK
Frank has a doctor appointment with a specialist this Friday, and we are hoping to get to the bottom of what is going on with his health.  His shoulders are still hurting him, especially at night.  The doctor does blood work at his office so we won't have to go to a lab. I am hoping things will go a little faster on the diagnosis and getting some kind of help with the pain.  The cortisone shots only lasted a week or so.

Sierra's Birthday - Cinco de Mayo

Sierra's birthday was on May 5th, Cinco de Mayo.  It seems fitting that she loves Mexican food and we have gone over to Mesquite to Los Lupies for years to celebrate her birthday. We went over on Friday as Sierra had a cast party - Theatre Class on Thursday. I can't believe that she is 17 and will graduate from high school next year.

Bret and Laura went into Vegas and picked up Merritt so he could come out and celebrate with us.  He really doesn't like Los Lupies, so next year for his and Frank's birthday we will have to go to Vegas and go some place he likes in there.

We came back to my home, and Sierra had some cards, and a present to open.  Sierra had made a raspberry cheese pie and we were all too full to eat any of it.  I kept a piece for us and sent the rest home with Sierra.  I ate my piece the next day, and it was yummy.  Good job Sierra..  The grand parents, Bret and Laura all went in on an I Pod. (think that is what you call it) for Sierra.  She loves it and showed it off at dinner.

Frank watching Sierra model her new hats

UP-DATE ON FRANK

The referred Rheumatologist didn't call so I called their office and found out they don't accept our insurance.  Thanks for letting Dr. Gorman's office know that.  It seems that we really need to take things into our own hands.  I went on the Internet and looked up all the rheumatologist in Vegas and found one that had three good comments.  I called their office and found out that they accept our insurance.  I asked how soon could we get an appointment, and the receptionist said that we would have to be referred by our family doctor.  So yesterday, once again I called Dr. Gorman, no answer and his answer machine was full.  We drove to his office and found a sign on his door saying that he was out of the office for the day.  Murphy's Law - not there when we need him. 

Frank went to Dr. Gorman's office today with the information of the doctor we found, and asked them to send a referral to him.  So we will see how long it takes to get that done.  I will call the doctor in a couple of days if we don't hear from him.  In the mean time, Frank isn't doing too well, his wrist his hurting him again today, and for that matter he hurts all over and is exhausted.  We are anxious to get to the bottom of all of this. It seems to take forever to get into doctors especially specialist to get help and answers.

The Merritts Streak of Bad Luck

The past week hasn't been the best for us.  First of all we went to a high pressure sales presentation, and somehow was suckered into joining.  We thought it was a good thing and maybe it is, but Frank found some bad things that had been posted on the Internet about this private sales club.  It really was expensive to join, and we found out too late that we could have cancelled it within three business days.  That was the beginning of our bad luck streak.   We still have to go to an orientation to learn how to shop their catalogs, etc.  So we have decided to wait to make our opinion on it after we see how it all works.  Our promise to each other, NEVER, NEVER, AGAIN WILL WE GO TO SOMETHING LIKE THIS.  WE ARE SUCKERS!!!! 

A couple of weeks ago we had a Rainbow salesman come to our home and he was here for a few hours demonstrating the vacuum, and at the end the salesman of course started his course of trying to get us to buy, and one of the things he said is that we had to buy today and we couldn't buy later.  Well, we told him what we have told sales people before.  "We never buy anything on the spot and we like to talk about it and think about it for a couple of days."  I am thinking, "What happened with this promise we made a long time ago when we made a big mistake in buying a car."  So what do we do, end up breaking that promise and signed on the dotted line with Direct Buy.  I was sick to my stomach for a few days, and then decided you can't cry over spilt milk and we need to check it out before making our decision.  So we will see. I know that I would have hated the vacuum as I don't like canister vacuums and it would be way too much work setting it up with the water, and then having to clean it afterwards and making sure it is dry. I like things quick and easy

Then Monday afternoon, I received a phone call from the nurse in our doctor's office.  She said the extensive blood work that Dr. Gorman had done on Frank came back with a ANA positive results, meaning he has some kind of an auto-immune illness.  So of course I am thinking the worst especially after looking it up on the Internet.  The top listing in the test was Lupus, but after going on in the list, I saw that it can be drug related, and Frank has been on prescription pain pills for over three years.  So we are thinking that this may be the cause.  They are referring us to a specialist in Vegas, and we are waiting for them to call.  If they don't, I am going to call them and make the appointment.  I am sure they are checking out our insurance first before they call us. His symptoms are, bursitis in his shoulders, back of his legs hurting, neck pain had a swollen wrist, and constant fatigue.

The bad luck goes on.  We had a fun fishing trip planned with our young neighbors.  They were going to help us with our travel trailer getting it set up etc., and it was a testing trip to see how Frank handles the trailer, etc.  Frank had saved some money for the fuel as diesel is so expensive.  So today he is mowing the lawn, and our lawn mower decided to quit.  He had to buy a new one, and yes there went his savings for the trip. 

Then I received a $400 dollar dental bill on a crown that Frank had to have.  So need I say more?  I called Wendy and told her the situation and to cancel our reservation for our trailer spot.  Disappointment needless to say.  We haven't done anything fun for so long.  We also were going to go to Pocatello, ID for our grandson's graduation, and then stay in Salt Lake City and visit family and friends.  That is out of the question now too.  So I guess I am saying I am feeling a little picked on and more like dumped on.  I hope this streak of bad luck is over.

Too Tired to Post Lately

Well once again I have let some time fly by.  I have been too tired and stressed to even think about posting.  So I will try and catch up some.

EASTER WEEKEND 

Renee came out to Overton for the Easter weekend, and spent a couple of nights with Sherry.  I went to Sherry's to see Rozlynn and of course she was taking a nap when I got there.  When she woke up I took this cute picture of her peeking above her crib.

Mama playing with Roz

She woke up and gave me a big smile.

Grandma Sherry gave Rozlynn a couple of presents for Easter.  Rozlynn tore open a package and found a doll in it.  Also Sherry gave her a cute purple Easter dress.

On Easter Sunday Sherry, Renee, and Rozlynn came to my house to spend the day.  We had a barbecue steak lunch, and then went outside on the patio as Rozlynn loves to play outside.  She is still in that exploring stage.  Trying to eat rocks, looking at birds, and anything that catches her attention.  She is so precious and so much fun to play with.

Bret and Laura had invited Frank & I for Easter dinner, but I had to take a rain check and told Bret I would be over later to get a yummy turkey dinner plate for us. I did go over that evening after Sherry and Renee left and visited with Bret, Laura, and Sierra.  Laura made me a nice plate of food and gave me a bag of her delicious rolls.  We had a turkey dinner for lunch the next day, and we devoured the rolls in two days.  They are so good.

On Monday Renee hid Easter eggs in her yard, and Rozlynn had fun finding them.  So she did have a belated Easter egg hunt at home. 

Monday - Sad Day

On the evening of Saturday April 2nd, my son Bret called me and told me he had some bad news about someone in my neighborhood and asked me if I was sitting down, which I was.  My first thought was of my young neighbor Kyle that maybe he had been in a wreck.  He has had a couple of accidents and maybe that is why that thought popped into my mind.  Instead it was a friend who lives around the corner on the street behind us, Julie Kirk. 

Her husband has terminal colon cancer, and a neighbor had taken him for a jeep ride. They do this to lift his spirits and to take his mind off his cancer. When they got home, Malcolm went into the house and the first thing he noticed was that Julie wasn't up.  He went into their bedroom and found her dead.  What a shock!!!! to put it mildly.  Julie had just turned 45 on February 27th.  They have four boys, three who are grown and two are on missions.  The youngest Pierce is only 9 and is still at home.  The good thing is that he was gone on an outing with the school that dark day. Julie's mother who lives next door was gone on a trip too.  Poor Malcolm was alone, but I am sure the neighbors rallied around him as soon as they found out. My heart aches for the family and especially Pierce.  I have seen the interaction between him and his Mom at church.  Julie was always hugging him and you could see the love between them. I don't know how much longer Malcolm will live, but I can't stand the thought of poor little Pierce losing not only his mother but his father too.

My personal opinion is that Julie had been under so much stress with her husband's illness, and had gained a lot of weight-----she was a stress eater------I think she had a stroke or a heart attack.  At this time I haven't heard what the cause of death was. I think that she was so busy taking care of everybody else that she didn't listen to her body symptoms, etc. and the outcome wasn't good.  The only good thing about her death was how she went.....in her sleep.  That is the way I want to go.  Don't we all?

I will miss Julie and her bright smile, her cute personality, her hugs and the way she brightened a room when she walked in.  I am still in disbelief that she is gone and I won't be seeing her around the neighborhood, and church.  Her funeral was really nice, and she had many friends and family there.

After the funeral, I met Sherry, Renee and Rozlynn at The Scoop.  Once again I forgot my camera.  Rozlynn is so dang cute and could warp me around her finger in a minute.  I took her for a little walk and I should say a little run because that is what she does is run.  I don't think she knows how to walk slow. 

Renee is having a tough time right now and I wish I could wave a magic wand and make everything right for her, but unfortunately that isn't how life is. All I can do is pray for her.

Clark County Fair

Frank & I worked a shift at the Family History booth at the fair.  It was the first day and we worked the late shift.  The wind was blowing so hard that I thought the tent we were in was going to blow down.  There was dust on everything.  One of our screens blew over and Frank had to tape it back up. It got really cold and I was glad I had taken a winter coat.

We were impressed with the two young girls that were transcribing census.  Their work was showing on the big screens and people would stop to see what the girls were doing.  I didn't get the their names written down, but they are the granddaughters of Cindy Brown the head of our Family History Center.  Usually you don't see young people doing things like this. 

The only things we got to see at the fair was what was on the aisle of where our booth was located.  Frank and I thought we would go the next day, but it was really cold, and windy and I still wasn't feeling too well.  So this is the first year in years that we didn't get to the fair.  I missed the funnel cakes......darn!!!!

Saturday was even worse as far as the weather.  It actually rained, and it was trying to snow at the same time.  So cold and windy again.  Makes me wonder just how well the fair did.  Who wants to go to the fair in that kind of weather?  Sunday was a much better day as far as the weather so maybe it was a better turn out day for the fair.

Sherry brought Rozlynn out to spend the weekend as Renee had to work Saturday, and her day care is closed on the weekends.  I went to Sherry's to spend the afternoon with her and Rozlynn.  I had so much fun playing with Rozlynn.  I can't believe that I forgot to take my camera again.  I am going to have to put it in my purse and leave it there so it is always with me.  Sherry and Renee went to the fair Sunday, and I spent the day at home resting as I still was feeling lousy.  I think the antibiotic was making me feel bad as they state on the Z-pack that it stays in your system several days after you finish your last pill. I didn't go to church and Frank ended up coming home early as he scratched his arm and had blood all over his white shirt. So we spent a quiet Sunday afternoon snoozing...
 

Feeling Lousy

I have been sick for a week now.  I haven't felt like doing anything except laying around.  It started out with a sore throat that never ended, but did get a little better.  Then my sinuses plugged up and keep draining down my throat which is making me cough, and I am sure keeping my throat red and sore.

Frank has been a trouper taking care of me and the household chores.  I am so lucky to have a husband who is willing to help out especially when needed.  The only thing he doesn't do is cook, so it has been easy stuff like take out pizza, soup from the can, and dinner from Sugars.  Then the poor guy ended up with Bursitis in his shoulder and has been in pain, and on top of that he had a tooth starting to hurt him, and went to the dentist to find out he has a cracked tooth and will be going back today to get started on a crown.  I am afraid it will abscess before it is over.  When it rains it pours.  He made the statement "Isn't my back pain enough?" 

In the mean time I am running a fever off and on.  I am either hot or chilling.  So I decided I probably have a sinus infection as when I bend down my face hurts.  I called my local doctor yesterday only to get the answer machine stating their hours and they should have been in.  I left a message asking if I could get in to see the doctor thinking they would call me back.  They never did.  Today I called again and listened closely to the message, at least today they stated they would be out of the office on Thursday the 7th.  Frank drove to the office to find they were open and the receptionist was on the phone.  He tried to get me in and the first appointment they had was for tomorrow afternoon.  Frustration, Frustration!!!!! This doesn't sound very accommodating for a small town doctor.  So I am thinking that after Frank has his tooth fixed I may have him take me to the Mesquite clinic.  I just want to get an antibiotic before the infection gets any worse, and of course get to feeling better instead of feeling like a big truck ran over me.