The Next Step...

So we have been working on getting the basement finished since before Alex left on his mission. He challenged us to finish it in the 2 years he is going to be gone... so we have worked on it a lot. The next step is the carpet but in order to do that we need to get all the stuff out of the basement. So we got a shed... First step is to get a good foundation down to put the shed on. Soooo.....

What a SPECIAL Valentine's Day!

This our dear friend Penny Collins. She has been receiving the missionary lessons for the past month or so. She was baptized today by Tim and what a special experience it has been.

Elder Holden, Elder Elkington, Elder Emery, Tim, Penny, Stephanie Anders

I am learning...

So while I am sick I am trying to get some things done. So I am trying to learn how to use the photoshop program I have. So here is my first try. Not bad, but very basic...

They found the problem... surgery will cure it... hopefully!

So that is the reader's digest version... here is a little more detail... For the past 9 years I have been dealing with low potassium. Some times are more difficult than others. I have been to the hospital many times over the past years due to this. The first time it happened, they were sure that I was having a heart attack and sent me up to Salt Lake Regional for a cardio cateterization(sp?). Every test on my heart showed no problems at all and everything fine with my heart! About 3-4 years ago the Dr put me on Aldactone to help regulate my potassium. It did great until recently. About 5 months ago I began struggling on a regular basis with feeling like my potassium was low. To be honest, I tried many things to keep from feeling that way. I would work in my office with the window open a bit so I could have fresh air. I even ordered a Radon kit to test and see if radon was making me sick. I think when you begin to have health problems, you look for anything that may be the answer.

Finally after another visit to the ER, and no signs of heart problems, we went back tot he Dr and he took more blood tests and it showed my aldostrone was twice the normal amount. That generally meant that there was a lump/growth on the adrenal gland. So they took a CT scan last Thursday and sure enough, I have a lump on my left adrenal. It is 1 cm. The solution is to take the left adrenal gland and the lump out. So surgery is set for Feb 20th at the IMC.

We are so excited that a problem has been found and that 95% of the time it will solve the problem of both the potassium problem and the high blood pressure I have had for the past 12 years. We are planning for it to be laprascopic and that I will only have to stay overnight, and that after 2 -3 weeks recovery, I will be a normal healthy person when this is over!!!

I have lived my life with a large supply of potassuim in my purse in case I began to feel sick (low). I have had to decline offers to go places and do things with family and friends because of how I have felt. One of the little miracle I have seen in this is that, things began to get worse AFTER Alex was on his mission. We were very busy and had something to do everyday before he left. I also enjoyed each and every moment we were able to spend together. Then shortly after he was gone, I began to get worse.

For now, I am on a leave of absence from work because every day is a challenge. I have had some good days but look forward to the surgery as a true miracle and blessing from a loving Father in Heaven. Your prayers would be appreciated.

Our Newest Project

So, I talked Tim into painting our master bathroom and when we got to the space with the light we realized that the light looked horrible and needed to be replaced and as we painted there were drips that got tracked all over the floor, so that was a great reason to look for new flooring. So here it is. The walls are kind og taupe-purple, the light is a more modern florescent fixture and the flooring is vinyl tiles that look like tile. We are excited to be getting some home improvements done since we have lived in the house for 13 years and haven't done very many improvements. (by the way, my new favorite channels to watch are HGTVand DIY).

Why do they call them WISDOM TEETH???

So on Friday, Jan 9, 2009, Marley got her wisdom teeth out... why they call them wisom teeth I don't know. Marley did well, but like her brother, she cried a lot as she came out of the anesthesia. Funny thing is, that was one of the first questions she asked me when she started coming around... but she asked me about 10 times because she couldn't remember that she had already asked me that. LOL Also like Alex, her bottom teeth were empacted so they had to take them out in pieces. She had a hard time with her lips numb and trying to communicate. So...

Of course the first thing she wanted to do was text Chris, but her mind and her hands weren't on the same frequency... I gave her the cell phone and she started texting, but her fingers weren't really moving, so I took the phone and this is what she wrote... "I'm olda we're huddauelal" Don't ask me what she was trying to say. She doesn't even know. She was sure texting a lot. I am sure she doesn't remember most of it. I even gave her a piece of paper and pen to write what she was trying to say, but that too was unreadable. She was very focused as she wrote, but when I looked at it, it made no sense. Of course it made me laugh and she didn't understand why I was laughing, it made perfect sense to her.

She also fainted twice the first day. Not what we were hoping for. It was scary but when she woke up and we told her she had fainted, she just laughed.

The second day was better... at least she didn't faint. Today she said she actually had no pain thanks to the pain meds...

Thanks to all of you who kept her in your prayers :o)


Day One The white thing is the ice pack holder they gave her with little ice packs in them over her cheeks. It was very helpful!!


Day 3

Our BEST Christmas Present!

On Christmas morning, Tim and I were up brightand early because we were so excited about it being Christmas.We weren't thinking about the presents under the tree or the food we would eat, we were thinking about getting the best present of all... a call from our son Elder Nelson! He told us he would be calling about 10 am his time (8 am our time). So we hurried and got everything ready for Christmas and I got the rolls in the oven. I was so distracted I forgot to set the timer and so they got a little burned. Then we waited. At 7:40 we woke Marley up and made sure Grammie was up so we could all be ready for Alex to call. We had set up a tape recorder and put it near the base unit of the phone so we could put the base unit on speaker phone and tape it. So 8 am came and went...So we opened presents. 9 am came and went.... Finally at 10:10 am the phone rang and Marley answered it. We were all so excited! We got the phone # and Tim had planned on calling back on his cell and conferencing in the house phone and Alex, but that didn't work... so Alex called again.. so we just went ahead and called him on the house phone.

First off, it was wonderful to hear his voice and know at that very moment, he was on the other end of the phone and talking to US! I miss that voice so much! Marley yelled, " Merry Christmas!!!" and he laughed.Then his dad needed to take the first few moments to discuss finances, then after that, we chatted. He was at the home of the Pulvers and they opened presents there and then called us. They had 2 other houses to visit that day. So he was going to get plenty to eat and be very well taken care of. He told us that being a missionary was different because he thought people would be interested in hearing the message they had, but they aren't. He said they get yelled at a lot! He talked about finding out about other relegions and how interesting that was. He has finished the Book of Mormon in 6 months and talked about the things he learned from reading that and said, if you have a desire to learn and understand as you read the Book of Mormon, you will. He has grown SO much and we are thankful for all he is doing!

We didn't cry until after the phone call and then Tim and I looked at each other and just started crying and hugged each other. Then Marley came into the room and saw us crying and said, "now your gonna make me cry" and she started crying and then the 3 of us hugged and cried, and then Grammie came in and she was crying too. So we hugged too! We were all so thankful to be able to talk to him and HEAR how he was doing!

We are thankful for him and his desire to share the message of Jesus Christ with others. We know that what he is doing is so very important and we are proud of the hard work he is doing!
We love him and miss him but know that nothing is more important at this time than what he is doing.