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...........

Halloween 2009

What a mild day......Tracy and Jeremy came over with the boys. Carson was Spiderman and the weather was so good he didn't even have shoes and socks on...........'course maybe Spiderman doesn't wear shoes and socks. Colton was finally asleep and Tracy said "I'm not even going to touch him...." So we left him in the car and I just took pictures. I had some fun with Carson tho'......So what else is new?








Monday 2 Nov 2009 was Mom and Dad's 59th wedding anniversary. We (Tracy, Jeremy, the boys, Craig, Terry, Ann and I met them at El Rancho Grande for dinner.........It's always so much fun getting together......I'm always amazed at how good the boys are at a restaurant.......Congrats Tracy and Jeremy. You're not afraid to train them in the real setting...........

'Course Colton is so busy that most everyone takes a turn keeping him occupied. I asked Tracy how long it's been since she was able to eat a hot meal? That would be about 3 years! These pictures are so funny. Carson loves to suck on lemons and I finally got some of those 'sour' pictures that you expect to see...........timing was perfect.

After dinner I made them sit one more time for pictures. This time with great grandma and grandpa.......Carson was okay for a minute.............
But by the time we added the rest he and Colton had HAD IT!!!

Well, we had a fun time and next year we'll have a party for 60! and invite some more family and friends........should be a good time..........
Hopefully I won't wait until then to update the blog........
Bye for now...................kare

Just some catching up.........

I was searching on my computer for a different picture to use for wallpaper and I ran across some pictures from mom and dad's open house in July. I'm pretty sure I didn't post any of them (shame on me). Well I found a picture that just really makes me smile.....cousin Steven Nielsen and mom....Love it!!


I was so glad he and Lani (and her girls) and Buzz and Kim came. It was soon after their dad (my uncle, mom's brother) Glen passed away and it was good to get together for a little happier occasion. Now if we could just get better about getting together!!

Here are some more pix from the 'party'.

Bertha Daniels from the 'old' neighborhood.

Pink (dad's brother) and Barbara Evans

Kenny and Barbara Erickson

Dad's cousin Reid Williamson and his wife Norma.

I think in all it turned out better than we imagined it would; a HUGE THANKS to Craig, Terry, Tracy and Ann for all their help.

The food was great and we had plenty to share when it was over.

Aunt Marelyn with Colton in a rare good mood.

Colton just singing away..........

And the Bailey family from their old ward came and sang a song for us as well............

Tracy and Carson when they first got there......him being shy for the first little while.

Jill, Jeff and Marci Evans

Carson Jones and Amy Evans

These funky neon daisies were fun.

Okay, so I'm slow...........BUT it was worth waiting for right?

October 2009

Went to the cabin for conference weekend. Planted some flowers and watched lots of things taped off TV. Great relaxing 4 days!!!

Took these pictures for mom and dad of the new sheet rock in the basement.




Looking into the bathroom.

Washer/dryer area

New door to utility room

Look from just inside the garage door straight into the basement.




Water heater

The outside wall to the bathroom

The shower






The ceiling.



The toilet.

Now, wasn't that exciting?

This isn't pretty but I have to get back to work, so I'll try to figure out how to move things to make them better later.