Colton's Birthday

We celebrated the first anniversary of Colton Craig Jones' birth on Saturday 27 Mar!!!

Boy was he tired!

Now the blending of these two families (the Jones' and the Evans') has produced a group that really likes to PARTY!!!

Carson had plenty of fun..................

I took a few pictures (I know, what a surprise), so what better place to post them than on my blog? It's the whole reason I created a blog, so I could share pictures with my family.

Tyler and Kristen. And they didn't even have to hold the camera themselves!

Jeremy's brother's little girl. "Hello hug".

He wasn't very interested in opening the presents but he didn't mind playing with them after they were opened.

Colton hadn't been feeling well so he was a little subdued even when it came time for eating 'the cake'. He was so tired by the time he got done that when he rubbed his eyes he got cake in them which made him cry. He was DONE! Just before that as he was eating his cupcake, face first, it was going up his nose which made him sneeze.

You have to feel bad for these kids that we make eat stuff they're not used to and delight in the mess that they make!

All cleaned and ready to play!

It was a fun day and it was great to see them. I don't think I had seen them since Christmas and he was just pulling himself up and walking around things. Now he's very mobile.

I have some video from that day and as soon as I figure out how to upload it I'll post it as well. Bye for now.........

Softball road trips.

Wow, I can't believe it's been 2 months already since I posted to the blog. I guess I lead a boring life.

We've been on 3 softball trips already and we had so much fun. I rented portable oxygen units so we could take a longer than five hour road trip without the concentrator that sits in my house.

Our first trip was to Phoenix, we drove straight through and we were beat by the time we got there. We went through Vegas so we could see if the new road over Hoover dam was finished. It's getting close and we got some amazing pictures of the bridge that will go over the gorge.

But we got our first glimpse of the 2010 Aggies. What a fun team. They are going places for sure. Got to spend an afternoon with Jo and went to lunch. Took our traditional AZ picture. It's a little dark and eventually I'll lighten it up but for now you get what you get.

Next we went to Palm Springs and the weather was pretty good. We had snow on the way down, just North of Beaver through Cedar City. The rest of the way wasn't too bad. We drove to Helendale which is on old Route 66 between Barstow and Victorville so Ann could spend some time with her Aunt Betty. Ann's cousin Connie got us rooms at the Silver Lake Inn right on the golf course. We had dinner with them and a little visit then the folks and I went back to the Inn and Ann stayed and visited longer. Really pretty area in the middle of the desert. You would never know this place was there if you weren't going to it. I thought I took some pictures but maybe they are on a different card........I'll have to look. We found a new gas-bathroom stop off the Lenwood street exit in Barstow at Love's. Perfect time to get out, stretch your legs and visit the clean restrooms. We got up the next morning and had breakfast at Molly's. Really great food, wish it wasn't so far off the path. On to Palm Springs. Checked into our Extended Hotel (nicest one we've ever stayed in) and then on to the ballpark in Cathedral City for 2 games.

We had terrible weather on the way back though. It started raining almost as soon as we left the park in Cathedral City and rained HARD almost to Vegas. It had rained so much in the Riverside area that they had closed the freeway and were diverting all the traffic off and back on at the next entrance. There was deep standing water under an overpass so they closed the freeway just before you got to it. Glad we didn't go through it to discover it for them. We had sleeting slushy rain that turned to hail over one mountain pass in the desert in California.

We got through Vegas and there was lots of traffic from the Nascar event. We came to a complete stop about 10 miles west of Mesquite. There was a camp trailer that wrecked and was all over the road. We were stopped for about an hour and a half.

But have no fear we had food and books so we just relaxed and ate. Dad walked up a ways and found out why we were stopped. Mom had bought the most scrumptous carrot cake at Sherman's deli in Palm Springs and since it was really big we still had some to snack on. Ann loved it as you can see. Once we got going we had a short drive to St. George where we stopped on the way back so we could return the portable oxygen unit. My cousin Joy lives in St. George and she helped us out. She returned the unit for me on Monday since we were coming through on Saturday and leaving Sunday to come home. It's great to have family in different stopping off spots. It was nice to break up the trip.

The last trip we took was to San Diego. The weather was gorgeous!!! We drove as far as Vegas and stayed at a Westgate resort both going and coming home.

We went to Old Town San Diego for mexican food and visited the Mormon Batallion visitors center. What a neat place. The church has really done a great job with that center. Lots of interactive displays and movies to tell the story of the march.

The facilities in San Diego are amazing. The only picture I got at the University of San Diego was the unusual cob web on the backstop that caught my eye.

I always take a picture or two of Jo during warm ups. Just habit I guess.

And of course there's post-game as well.

The field at SDSU has some beautiful landscaping around it. Bird of Paradise all around. Hard not to take pictures of that.

Our trip home from there was interesting. Pretty uneventful to Vegas. We stopped to eat dinner at Marie Calendar's in Vegas before we checked in to the hotel since we knew we wouldn't want to go out after we got in..........well when we came out of the restaurant we had a flat tire. We drove over to a gas station and put some more air in it and Ann noticed that the air was blowing on her chest as she was putting it in........there was a hole, maybe a slash, just below the steel belts/tread. So we chewed some gum and put it on the hole, added some more air and limped to the hotel. In the morning Ann and I went out and started getting the tire off and dad helped get the toy tire on and we went to Discount Tire and bought a new one. Thank heaven for our tire guy here in town Paul from Bargain Tire who we trust........he helped us through the transaction.

So, a stop in St. George at the Cracker Barrel for lunch and a stop in Beaver for ice cream and curds and we were on our way home. It was the latest we've ever gotten home from one of these road trips. around 7pm.

But it was a fun trip and the softball was great. The aggies won all their games including 2 that went 9 innings and gave us all a heart attack. Mom had a hard time since there weren't a lot of pacing places. But she gets up and wanders and then they win..............fun fun times.

Christmas 2009!!

Wow, I have a few minutes so I'll try to put some pictures up from Christmas. As usual we had a blast. Jo came in a little earlier this year and we met her for dinner at Little America coffee shop the Saturday before Christmas. I was just newly (sort of) on oxygen and it was amazing how many people we saw there at the hotel that were also on oxygen.........have I just been blind before now? I see them everywhere now. It's like I have another 'family' out there.

Christmas afternoon at Craig's with all but Vicki's family. Funny this time last year Tracy was pregnant and really loving the foot massager/warmer that Vicki sent. Now Colton is 9 months old and pulling himself up and walking around the furniture. The boys are so adorable. Carson is getting to be so big and grownup. Talks a mile a minute. Colton had a little nap and when he got up he was all squishy so Tracy took advantage of a little cuddle. I got some cute pictures.......

Carson LOVES his grandpa............and why wouldn't he? He looks like a young, healthy Santa! Wow, sometimes it is just more fun playing in the box than with the gift that came in it!!

Dontcha just wanna kiss those cheeks?
Tyler was a real sport. As usual we all requested he play the piano for us.........I never get tired of hearing him play.

Jeremy is such a good dad.............and yes, I was closer than 5 feet from an open flame with my oxygen...........didn't dawn on me until dinner was almost over that those candles probably shouldn't have been lit.

Terry, Tyler and Kristen. It's so great that Tyler and Kristen can come up for the holidays. I know that might not always be the case.

I think maybe the bubblewrap was more popular than the gifts but we did all have a good time.

And when it's over, it's over...........

Well, that's all for now...............thanks to all of you for your well-wishes. You're the best.

The Saga continues

Blog update

Needle biopsy 24 Dec only 2 needles needed.

Ann dropped me off at mom’s complete with concentrator and gifts. She picked me up on Christmas afternoon on the way to Craig’s. Fun time at Craig’s. The boys were adorable and Colton was more pleasant than usual. He’s pulling himself up and walking along things. Big ole blue eyes. I'll post pictures from Christmas tomorrow.......

Got a call from Dr Bank about a week after the biopsy, the results of the ultrasound biopsy showed a 1.4 cm mass on the left lobe of the thyroid and the biopsy results were iffy enough that she thinks we should go in and remove the nodule. The pathologists’ suggestion was to wait 3-6 months and test again. She said “I don’t want to wait 6 months and then wish we would have taken care of that 6 months ago". So her office set up a consultation with Dr Voorhees a thyroid specialist for consultation before surgery. My folks went with me on Tuesday the 12th of January to meet with Dr V. They set up surgery for the following Monday 18 Jan. Scheduled as outpatient surgery to remove the left lobe of the thyroid. They do a freeze section and test. Went in for pre-op labs on Thursday, blood and ekg. The nurse taking my blood was so quick she was done before I hardly knew she'd poked me with the needle. The nurse doing the EKG said heart rate and rhythms were good.

Snowy slick roads on Monday morning so it was a little slow going to the hospital. Checked in at the hospital Monday morning at 9am. At 10:30 the pre-op nurse was telling me that I’ll need to make sure I'm centered on the operating table. The next thing I knew it was 12:01 and the nurse was asking me if I was waking up. The Dr. came and told me that everything went perfect and the mass was benign. I was back in my room by about 12:30 where mom and dad were waiting. A little pain medication and put my clothes back on and I was released and being wheeled out the door by nurse Shirley, with a scrip for oxycodone and an appt with the Dr for 2 Feb. Ann left work about the same time and met us at home when we got there. I was a little groggy/woozy. Took pain meds that night but I was a little nauseous and light headed the nest morning so I decided that I wouldn’t take anymore. My pain wasn’t that bad and didn’t warrant it. It took until late Tuesday afternoon before I felt like the pain meds and anesthesia were out of my system. I had scheduled to be off Tuesday and Wednesday so I just laid around for a couple of days resting up. I told Jo that I looked like I'd been hit with a line drive. (covering for a bunt)This is day after surgery.

Day 2 after surgery.

Mom and dad brought me dinner on Tuesday night on their way to the bball game at Utah. I was craving ham sandwich on Grandma Sycamore bread. Craig came and took me to lunch at Ab’s on Wednesday afternoon after he got off work.

Went back to work on Thursday. I worked for about 6 hrs and then went home a little tired. Stayed home on Friday just resting up.

My Health Update

WARNING: THIS IS VERY LONG AND MAY BE BORING. Read it or skip to the very end.

Well, usually I say nothing much new has happened "same old thing" "pretty boring around here".

But it's not really the same old thing for me right now. I've been fighting the crude/cold thing for most of the fall and finally went to the Dr.

I woke up on Sunday 29 Nov and felt a little tight-chested; almost like I couldn't catch my breath. I decided maybe it was my turn for the asthma thing and decided to go straight to a pulmonary specialist rather that a general practice Dr. So, Monday morning I called, described my symptons and got an appt for 9 Dec (10 days later). I worked all that week and had to take things slow since I was out of breath so much. Sunday before my appt. I felt a little fevery and achy from the crud rearing it's ugly head again. Since I had an appt. for Wednesday morning I stayed home from work on Monday and Tuesday since I was running a little bit of a low grade fever that would come and go. Never went above 101.1.

The Dr. scheduled me for a chest x-ray as part of the visit so I was at St. Marks hospital at 8am for the xray and then the appt. with Dr. Klein. (Sorry, I don't know if I can make 'a long story short' without leaving out detail that I know later I'll wish I had.)

So, my oxygen level was really low and I had a breathing test before and after a shot of inhaler. He looked in my nose and told me I was a little congested (ya think?). He told me I had a small neck but there might be some swelling? (more on that coming later) He listened to my lungs and said they sounded good but he was concerned that my blood pressure was a little high. He referred me to a primary care physician which I haven't had to this point. He wanted me to have a CATscan of my lungs to make sure there wasn't a clot which could lead to restrictive lung........So they called, made me an appt and I was able to get in while I was right there at the hospital. A few bruises later, no clot and I was on my way home. They also made an appt for a follow-up breathing test for Tuesday. They called in a scrip for oxygen which I have to use 24/7 for a month. I'll see the Dr. again in a month.

While I was waiting for the CT scan I called the new Dr. and got an appt to see her on Monday. On my way home I got a call from Praxair (the oxygen people) and they came out that night with instructions and 10 tanks of oxygen plus the machine to use at home. Each tank lasts 3.5 hours so I need 3 to get through a work day. Well I didn't feel like jumping right in to work so I stayed off for the rest of the week. I have 50 ft. of tubing that gets me all around the house. I can even go to the basement to do laundry.

I was feeling a little overwhelmed that next day so I called Steve Riley (our U of U bball coordinator) and told him what was going on........he was so sweet. He's rearranging me out of the schedule until after I see the dr on Jan 11th.

Wow, sorry this is so long............That was Wednesday. Monday I went to the new dr. My folks came and hauled me and my oxygen tank to the Dr and then we went to dinner. The Dr. put me on some blood pressure meds, gave me the zpack for the crud and an inhaler (as needed). Not sure when I know I need it............She felt my neck and said there was some swelling, maybe my thyroid. She wants an ultrasound. She'll see me in a month. After dinner they took me to the drug store and filled the scrips and took me home.....I crashed. I got a call later that night setting up the ultrasound for Wednesday...........You see where this is going don't you? It was funny......I told the dr. I've basically been pretty healthy so I haven't had a primary care physician. Just go to the dr. when the crud gets so bad that I can't stand it anymore. She asked about some of the 'maintenance' kinds of things and I told her no I'd never had a colonoscopy. She laughed and said oh you'll be sorry you came in..........now I'll get my hooks in you and we'll take care of all those things. I told her I figured as much...........She said we'll work on things one at a time.

Next day was the follow-up breathing test day........same drill. Mom and dad picked me up and again we had a great outing concluding with lunch.

Wednesday ultrasound on my thyroid. I'm getting to know my way around the St. Marks radiology dept. Very concise and well thought out areas for checking in and waiting. I like that everything's right there. Didn't take very long and of course food afterwards. That's the best part. The worst part, I feel bad that when we're done my parents have to drive home in rush hour traffic. At least the weather/roads were good so there were no problems.

On a happier note, Jo came in on Saturday and so we all (Mom, Dad, Ann, Jo and Jack) met up at Little America coffee shop for dinner. It was great to see her. Thanks Jo, you've been a great support through all of this so far. While we were on our way there I got a call from the drs. office telling me that my cholesterol is a little high 245. I can lower that with 'diet and excercise'. They said they'll probably check it again in 3 months. I told them thank you.

I'm getting pretty good at hauling this oxygen tank around. Ann and I have a regular system down when we hit the road. It was funny at first we thought we were going to be so limited about what we could do but it just takes a little thought and an extra minute or 2 and we're off. We've been to Kaysville and Herriman this last weekend to deliver her Christmas things to her nieces and nephews. We had a mini version of a piano recital when we went to Zane and Lorena's. All the kids played their pieces for us..........very nice.

This pretty much brings us up to speed. Yesterday I got a call from Dr. Bank (pcp). she had the results of the ultrasound and said there is a 1.5 cm mass on my thyroid and she wants to have it biopsied to be sure what it is. She said usually if there are lots of little ones its usually because the thyroid is working harder but one bigger one they want to check on.............so tomorrow I go in for a needle biopsy........yay another new test at St. Marks. I'll see a different room.........

Okay, that was very long and very depressing...........Life is grand. My friends are great. My family is the best. They are right there if I need anything......I can get around and do pretty much whatever I want. I'm so lucky that I was finished with my Christmas shopping and only had to wrap stuff which I did in spurts and sent home with my folks everytime we went to the dr. It should make the trek to Santa's a little easier tomorrow. I still have plenty of stuff to haul........ha ha.

Fall Update...........

Well, another jam packed weekend. Utah Women's Basketball started on Friday. One of those exhibition games that's usually a yawner.........

The weather is still gorgeous and the fall leaves spectacular so Saturday morning I mulched leaves getting ready to 'winterize' my yard....

Ann and I went to the Wilderness...Rhonny had her annual 'early Thanksgiving'. They had some friends out with their kids and when we got there they were ropin' and the kids were making the most out of a pile of dirt. Oaklee was being entertained in the horse walker and lovin' it. These pictures of her are probably an hour later, she wasn't as happy. She'd lost her pacifier in the dirt and I had to walk around the track a couple times before I found it.
Jaxson wasn't feeling very well but he did have fun riding the horse.



Finally got some pictures of Oaklee and her famous blue eyes and hair! She's adorable.

Rhonny's mom (Grandma Idaho) had the greatest hat!!! They were on their way to the new pig barn..........I guess they thought it was cold. I thought it was perfect.




After we were done in the Wilderness we stopped by the Jones' for Carson's birthday party. It was a wild time! The kids all had a blast and as you can see Carson tilted the fun meter.......
He also got his second set of stitches......I guess he fell Saturday morning and he and Jeremy took a ride to the Emergency Room. I think almost everyone in my family has had stitches somewhere on their foreheads around the eye area..........


All in all a great weekend. Spent Sunday resting up for another work week...........