Why Worry?

Sorry I haven't been around lately! I've been checking in on all of you though, rest assured. I had a few weeks after I returned from California where I just didn't feel well. Something was off in my old body. The gray cloudy days, rain, and gloom added to my weariness, but the last five days or so have been so bright and sunny! I am feeling much better and the sun does something to me. It fills me with energy and a drive to get things done. That's what I have been doing. Cleaning out closets and cupboards and getting things done. I tackled my fabric stash the other day. After a whole spring and summer of sewing it was in a terrible mess! I have a lot more fabric than I thought I did, and I had forgotten how many pre-cut aprons I actually have waiting to become something beautiful!

 Here's my stash as it looks now. Wish me luck keeping it that way. And, yes, that is my camera strap hanging in the way.

 Here is my latest creation.

I've also been worrying over my little flock of chicks. Every one of them! The Master has hurt his back, yet again. He fell while performing a skit with the other coaches for the opening party of BYU's Swimming and Dive teams. He landed hard on his left hip. The doctor thinks a muscle or ligament is torn. So much for his acting career. He is in a lot of pain and can barley bend over. How he puts his shoes on is a mystery! Hopefully we can figure out how to best help him. He has X-rays today. Quality of life not so great right now...!


Dr. Sarah is busy applying for jobs around the country. She has found a lot of joy serving as a Seminary teacher for her Stake, along with her roommate Seija, she teaches every other day. (They teach together on Wednesdays.) She has gotten very ill over that last week. She thinks bronchitis again.. Worry over jobs, worry over health...!

Miss Britt is in limbo over new jobs. She's waiting anxiously to hear from one in particular. She has had several call-back interviews and would love to move on in her life. Can't say more! Today she finds herself at the Utah County Courthouse in Provo. She made it through the first cut on a list of potential jurors. Today they are being individually interviewed. This is no ordinary jury duty. These jurors are being chosen for a very high profile murder case. If you live in the region it is on the daily news. It has been talked about on every cable news station and featured on shows like 20/20. That's all my girl needs right now!They've narrowed the field to 120 prospective jurors. What are the odds? Looks like one in ten. Life in turmoil and murder...!

Rach has applied for admittance to Utah State in Logan. She has decided art school is so pricey and she would really like to get her Bachelor's degree done and behind her while giving herself more time to save money to get to art school. Money...!

Richard is still working on some classes on Electronic High School. It is a process. The job search continues. I know he'll find just the right one for his unique needs and personality. Worrry about the future...!

I just hang around the house every day trying to keep all in order and get sewing done. I am getting my ETSY shop back up and running. It's not ready yet, but soon. Stress and pins in my fingers multiple time every day...! (But my fingers are tough, right?!)

There is much in our lives that is good and we are grateful. I know everything usually turns out alright and that things will be OK. Waiting is hard though. In the meantime, here is a little prayer I always think of this time of year. If only ghoulies and ghosties were all we had to bother us!

Remember The Last Post?

You Know, the one that started, "I have been very sick?" Ditto.

Nov. 26th was my birthday. It was the first day since before Thanksgiving that I didn't feel like coughing all day. What a gift! The Master took me out to celebrate. It was a yummy dinner and he didn't even have the staff at the restaurant sing Happy Birthday to me! Thanks for that! I went to bed and settled in for a long winter's nap. At 12:45 I was awakened by a sharp, intense pain in my lower right back. After trying different positions and trying to stretch it out, the back pain was not giving in, so I did. It actually hurt so badly that I wanted to cry. not wanting to wake my sweetie I went downstairs to tough it out under a quilt on the sofa. Soon the pain intensified and spread to my lower right abdomen. Appendicitis? I lay there with my iPhone looking up symptoms. At 4:30 The Master awoke and finding me not there he panicked. When he found me I was doubled over, tearful, and so glad he was there. He convinced me to go to the ER and so, out into the cold we went. A CT scan, blood work and urinalysis showed nothing wrong with me. No appendicitis, no kidney stones, no nothing. By 7:15 we were home with a charge to come back if it got worse. Oh, and they shot me up with some awesome pain killers that helped me sleep! Niiice!  This was Early Tuesday morning.

 This basically says "Thanks for coming in today! 

We're sorry we don't have what you are looking for but feel free to come again!

To make this story shorter than my week went here is a list of what followed:

*More intense pain.
*A visit to our family doctor that afternoon.
*More blood work & urinalysis. Nothing.
*An xray. Nothing.
*A referral to a surgeon. By 5:30PM leaving his office with orders for an ultrasound. Could be my   
  gall bladder.
*Another night of pain, not as bad.
*Early Wednesday morning ultrasound with a promise to call me by mid-afternoon with results.
*Another day on the sofa in pain. Nausea. Have not eaten since Monday night.
*No call with results.
*Sarah arrives on an evening flight for a job interview at BYU.  I didn't mention that earlier did I?
*By noon Thursday The Master takes matter into his own hands and calls the hospital for the results.
  Guess what? NOTHING WRONG!
*Rest, take ibuprofen, be patient (!)
*Friday, still in pain. Surgeon summons me to the ER for more tests. Sigh.
*Another CT scan, more blood work, doctors scratching their heads. Urinalysis comes back positive.
*What???
*A kidney infection. Never had one. Never want one again! Not a fun way to spend a week.

 Once the antibiotics kicked in I did a lot of this...

A little gift project for one of Sarah's friends.

Do you watch Dr. Who?

I also got a lot of snuggles in with Roxie. She kept me warm!

 
We had waited to have my birthday cake until Sarah was here. Then we waited until I felt like eating it! I cannot believe I let them take my picture. No Make-up for a week is pretty liberating but, yuck!
Hey, put a Red Velvet cake in front of me and I'll do anything!

Sarah's interviews went very well. Thursday was full of faculty and Vice Presidential interviews along with lunch and dinner. Friday was and early interview with Elder Echohawk of the Seventy and then to campus to teach a super fun lecture on the Black Death. She received rave reviews. We are very hopeful and should hear sometime in late January whether she has the job. Wouldn't that be amazing?!!!  That evening we did something with her that she has not done with in SIX years...

 We decorated the tree with her here! SO much fun. Here is our tree not finished yet. It would take me half of the next week to get up the energy to put on everything.

This is a collage Rachel made. The horse she bought from a family outside of Target who was selling them to raise money for their moms chemo treatment. They were selling them for a dollar each and she gave them a $10. When they tried to give her change/9 more ornaments, she kindly refused and told them to keep the money. What a sweet girl.
The owl is the ornament I gave her this year because she has a thing for cute little wise-guys like that, and the Santa with bagpipes is from last year. (She loves Scotland and men in kilts!) Sarah donned the Minnie ears and made me smile. She wore them all night.

We have a tradition of giving the kids an ornament every year. Nothing on our tree matches, but everything means something. It is always very sentimental when they start pulling them all out. After we had our sweet pup Samwise for about a year or so I gave each one of the family this Jack Russell Terrier ornament. I found them at Target. They were brown and white only so I custom painted them with some black on the head and a big black spot in the back. Voila! Samwise! There were tears this year as the first Sam ornament was found and hung. How we miss that guy. It's hard to believe it's been nearly a year since we lost him. He is still such a big part of our family and our hearts.

Yaaaaawnnnn....

At my age, when you lose a few hours of sleep it kills. I mean it literally takes me out! After so many late nights/early mornings at the hospital with little Lucas I am dragging. I have not been a morning person for about ten years and this has taken its toll. I keep waiting to "catch up" on my sleep but I find myself a very dozy driver at 7:30 every morning when I drive Richard to school. Not good! I come home and snuggle up on the couch with Miss Roxie and doze for awhile longer and then showering usually does the trick. I am not even the one who had the C-section! But she is infinitely younger than me and it's not fair! I admit, I need to get to bed earlier some nights. I am crocheting in the evenings to restock my Farmer's Market inventory and it is hard to stop! I am skipping today's market because I need to sew about ten more aprons too. I have had some good success but not a lot of time to build the supply back up. To top it off, my kitchen is overflowing with tomatoes of all kinds, onions, and Anaheim chilies. And where is their creator? Eating cheesecake in Las Vegas! That's right. The Master, The Cutest coach at BYU is at the World Swim Clinic in Sin City with palm trees, good food, and the M&M's Store (without me)!

But that's OK. I get to hold this little guy!

Lucas was admitted to the N.I.C.U. at 3:00 in the morning on Monday. He was doing so well at birth 30 hours earlier, breathing on his own, strong and alert. All of that energy he was born with was quickly spent however. He began to turn blue when his Mommy tried to feed him. He did not have the strength to eat and breathe at the same time. He is doing well 4 days later! The oxygen was removed on Tuesday although he continues to be fed through a tube in his nose. He is gaining weight and will soon have the strength to eat all on his own. I have been amazed at his Mommy and Daddy's strength. They are wonderful parents already!

Please remember Lucas and his parents in your prayers. It may still be a week or so before he can come home.

Hope you all are doing well!

It was a Dark and Stormy Night...

May I introduce you to my first Grandchild?

Lucas Michael Mowes

Born September 1, 2012 at 12:39 a.m.

5 lbs. 6 oz.

18.5 inches tall

That's my hand next to his tiny head. He is four weeks early and very small, but doing amazingly well! He did not need any respiratory help or warming beds. He took on the world on his own!

His mama, my sweet daughter Diana, has had pre-eclampsia and things began to deteriorate rather quickly in the last few days. His heart rate was dropping late last night as the doctor was ready to induce labor. Mom and baby were rushed into the surgical unit. Daddy Nick held up like a trooper!

We are all suffering from acute lack of sleep after waiting for him past midnight and waiting another few hours to meet and hold him. Thunder and lightning woke us up at 4:00 a.m. after about an hour of sleep. I spent the entire day at the hospital helping the weary new parents. They are both doing well but need a good night's sleep. I hope they let little Lucas be watched over by the nursery staff tonight. I also cannot wait to go see him again the morning!

In other news: 

Richard had his wisdom teeth removed Friday morning early.  He was born with only the 2 upper ones so it has been an easy recovery for him. Dee watched over him today while I was at the hospital. He also scalded, peeled, and juiced a mountain of his garden tomatoes for me to bottle later. For now they live in the freezer in the form of tomato sauce! He is amazing and I love him so much!

Hey! We are grandparents!!

Meet "Pa"

 and Gramma, GramMari, or just Gram for short!

God, our Father in Heaven heard many, many prayers last night and blessed this family greatly!

 Life will never be the same!

Good Morning Viet Nam!

Yesterday I was hit by a truck at 7:40 a.m. Ouch! My poor car and I were crunched by a sweet little Vietnamese man. He swims at the Fitness Center every morning and was just leaving to go home as I was arriving to deliver some hot cocoa to Dee and his swimmers. It was very chilly for an outdoor practice! "I not see! I not see! Oh! You are ok? I so sorry!" he cried as he came to my window. He told me he had been admiring the flowers across the street at the cemetery which was all decorated for Memorial Day. He started up from the stop sign without seeing me. "Twenty year I live here and no accident. This my first!" I felt so badly for him. I called Dee to come out and lend me a hand. I knew I was not badly hurt but I was shaken up. When the other driver saw Dee he laughed and said, "It YOUR fault! YOUR fault! You tell me get in and swim. If I had left then, no accident!" apparently Dee and Mr. Viet Nam were old pals! That's when I said, "Yes, it IS your fault! If you had let me just drive home from my early run to the airport (Britt left on vacation) and not begged me to bring you hot cocoa I would be home now (and NO accident!). I am blaming him!

Today I am sore and even limping! My right side feels like it got slammed by a Chevy S-10 pick-up. I will see my osteopath for a good adjustment and hopefully some therapeutic massage on Thursday, just after I drop off my poor Town and Country for her body work. I wish I could visit a body shop and come out all shiny and new too! (No wrinkles would be great!)

Yesterday also happened to e the 50th anniversary of the Viet Nam war. Strangely appropriate.

A Stitch in Mine...

Have you ever had stitches? I managed to live 52 years without ever requiring a sewing of myself back together. I ruined my record last Tuesday evening when I  sliced my pinkie finger open on a can lid. I was making a lovely whole wheat crusted pizza for my family when this carnage occurred. The can of olives was sitting there with the lid sticking straight up (my mistake!) and as I moved my hands from the pizza to the chopped olives on the cutting board I grazed my hand over the lid's sharp edge.

Beware!

How is it that I have given birth to five babys with little to no pain medication and handeled it like a trooper, but this little cut just about layed me out on the floor? If Brittany hadn't been home I don't know what I would have done! She held my hand under running water to clean the cut and then had to apply pressure to get the bleeding stopped. I was so woozy and nauseous, I couldn't believe it! At the doctor's office I blacked out while sitting with my arm up on the exam table. The nurse asked if I would like her to open the window. (This was after she had put 3 injections right into my wound!) I must have had no color in my face and I know I was clammy and couldn't form words to answer her. My goodness! I am always the strong one, the one who can take care of anything on anyone! How did this deep little cut do that to me?

At any rate, I ended up with 2 little stitches to hold the thing closed because of where it was located near the knuckle. Big Deal! I have complete empathy for anyone who has ever had to have stitches. I felt like such a wimp! I can only imagine how bad it would have been for me if it had been larger. NO FUN!

"At Your Age..."

The doctor said I'm going to live! Hooray for me! On my visit last week Dr. M pronounced me healthy and sound (other than the need to exercise and lose some weight) . He addressed my S.A.D. by telling me to get more Vitamin D and exercise. He was also not opposed to short and infrequent tanning sessions. Hmm...we'll see.

About an hour after I left the offices of Lind, Lamereaux, and Melendez a realization hit me. I have entered a new phase of my life. (Here is where is gets all girl talk-ish so if you are a lurking male reader be warned!) After Richard was born nearly 15 years ago I went through post-partum depression. It was intermediately serious. I have been on birth control pills ever since as hormone therapy. They keep me from being a soggy, sobbing mess of a person. I have enjoyed their company. When I have been careless and not refilled the prescription in time I have gone through headaches, shakes, and woeful uncontrollable tears. You can understand my surprise then, when Dr. M said it was time to go off of my Happy Pills! He is practiced and skilled at what he says. He did not say to me, "you are too old", he said "at your age...you do not need this high of a dose of estrogen." Pshhh! You cannot fool me!

I realized I was spiraling to "at your age..." about ten years ago when I would visit his office annually and notice that I was the only woman over 40 in the waiting area. All of the others were young and beautiful and glowing with pregnancy. Hmph! So what, now I am too old for "that much estrogen"?! Here is the plan. In two more days I will be out of pills. I am to then go cold turkey. If I happen to notice that I am having hot flashes or if my emotions are out of control I am to call him and he will prescribe hormone replacement therapy which will be a lower dose of estrogen. I know how it works. I know it is better for my body. I also know that the next couple of weeks are going to be hard! It's a good thing the Master is leaving for Sectional Championships tomorrow and won't be back until Sunday. He may come back though, just as the really bad stuff starts! Watch out!

I suppose Dr. M thought he was being delicate and telling me something I would like to hear when he added that there was "very little chance" of me getting pregnant anymore. Please understand...I do not want a baby (at MY age)! But the fact that I am now bumped up to a new group was disturbing and brought a few tears.

Sigh.

Life passes us by.

I might as well hang on and try to enjoy the ride.

Still Re-emerging...

Yes, this could be me!

I cannot seem to wake up. Every day is the same. My alarm goes off and I find myself in a groggy cloud of blurry need to sleep longer. I get 7-8 hours a night. I am not sure what's up! I have determined one thing, however. I believe I truly suffer from S.A.D. or Seasonal Affective Disorder. We have had some nice sunny days on and off lately and I always seem to feel better, more motivated on those days. On the gray days I walk around in a fog. I do get things done, but slowly. I am not sure how to fix this other than moving to a sunnier place! Brittany wants to take me tanning. She is certain it helps her. My skin is in bad enough shape from growing up in Mesa! I am not sure I want to add to it!

In other less-than-exciting news...Today is my annual gynecological exam. I love my doctor. He sits and listens to me in his comfy office before I get to wear the paper gown! I don't really feel like talking about my life while wearing a paper gown! But what will I say today?

I am sorry I did not go in for my mammogram this last year. You see, the one the year before hurt like no other! I have had numerous mammo tests and none have ever come close to the last one! The words, busrting and exploding come to mind. I hurt for days afterward! Yes, there is some anxiety there.

I am sorry I did not go to the hospital lab and get my blood test last year. I couldn't seem to get out of bed!

Gray skies make me S.A.D. What can you DO about it Dr. M.? Hmmm?

Yes, I know I have put on weight since last year. I cannot seem to get myself moving. I promise, the first warm sunny morning I will be out there walking!

Am I happy? Mostly. Just don't ask before my morning shower!

Is it my age? Don't tell me!!

I will let you know what he says!