Not so Good News from the Doctor

So after 10 days of using the mouth wash stuff the thrush in my mouth is worse.  I now have lots of sores around my teeth to go with the yucky tongue.  Add that to the nausea, light headedness, earaches, sore throat, headache, body aches, fever, and chills and I'm feeling pretty much awesome.  I spent almost 2 hours at the health clinic today.  They put me on a strong antibiotic and took lots of vials of blood.  Depending on the results I will either slowly start feeling better or else I have c-diff and am going to end up in the hospital on IV's.  Isn't that special???  They also said that with having had Staff infection it will be a good 2 to 3 months before I feel completely normal again.  I really didn't want to hear any of this.

Can I tell you that I have the most awesome boss in the world.  His response to my last update was, "I am so, so sorry to hear this!  Please don't worry about anything here at work.  Just focus on getting whatever rest and treatment you need to get better, and we'll take care of things here.  We want you to be able to come back at 100 percent strength!"  Now how many of you can say that would be your bosses attitude about his new employee missing a few days of work?

The good new is some of my family is coming down for the weekend and my Mom can take care of me.  She doesn't know that's on her agenda yet, but I'm sure she'll be thrilled because she loves me.  Kyle wants to know what is wrong with the way he takes care of me.  I told him sometimes you just need your mom and he understood that.

Page Links

I just wanted to make you aware that with the new blogger layout you can create different pages.  I wanted to point out in case you might have missed them that I have some pages you can click on and visit.  The links are listed along the top of the page under the Header.  There are About Us, Favorite Quotes & Thoughts, and I Am Thankful For... pages. 

The Adventures of Old Red

So ever since Kyle had to get rid of his truck when we got married due to the high cost of owning it (somehow this has always been my fault even though he was the one who did it)  he has been in mourning.  So when we found out we were going to have a little money coming in again and we ran onto a really good deal we purchased him an old 1991 Ford F150 Truck.  It seemed to be in good condition and came with a shell and snowplow.  For as old as it is it has low miles and the interior is in good condition.  After driving it for a month or so it started leaking oil.  So you would think it would be no big deal to change an oil pan.  Boy would you be wrong!!!

Dad and Kyle spent all of last Saturday in Greg's shop under the truck attempting to change the oil pan.  Turns out it involves moving both the engine and the transmission.  After 11 hours they admitted defeat, loaded the truck onto the trailer and took it to the auto shop.  So the $130 in parts turned into a much, much larger bill (although not quite as much as I figured it would). 

Last night Dad, Mom, Tyler, Marlee, and Marijka met us in Layton for dinner at Red Robin to bring us the truck.  My Dad keeps apologizing because he couldn't fix the truck.  I'm the one who should be apologizing for making him attempt to fix it for 11 hours and coming home so covered in oil and transmission fluid that he had to throw away his clothes.  It just shows the kind of man my Dad is that he blames himself for not being able to help me out.  Thanks for trying Dad.  I'm sorry you went through so much just because I'm cheap.  I love you for all you do for Kyle and me. 

And now Kyle has a truck and no longer feels like his right arm is missing.  If it wasn't dark outside I'd go take a picture for you.

Gingerbread Houses w/the Kids

I decorated gingerbread houses tonight with Gracie, Brooklyn and Garrett. Gracie decided she needed to make a gingerbread house because she has a sweet tooth (that's what she told my Mom.) Someone (Mom I'm sure) told her I was the person she needed if she wanted to make one and so she's texted me video messages all last week telling me how excited she was to see me on Friday night to make a gingerbread house. So what else was I to do? The best part was that the kit I stopped and bought at Cosco on the way home from work was already put together so we only had to decorate it. SO MUCH EASIER!! I wonder how much of their houses they have already eaten.  Kids sure make the Holidays more fun.

Gracie is a happy girl!!!

Gingerbread House Decorating

The back of Gracie's House

Gracie's gingerbread man needed to be laying in the snow
and Brooklyn had to eat the legs off of hers so she
could be sure it wouldn't run away while she wasn't looking

Total concentration.  Brooklyn has green icing on her cheek

Garrett's Masterpiece.  He had to eat one of his gingerbread
men before he could go to bed that night.

Infections and More Infections

I now have thrush and a yeast infection in my mouth to go along with the staff infection I'm working on getting over. The doctor said they have probably gone down my throat which would explain the sore throat, hoarse voice and uncontrollable coughing (to the point of throwing up several times) the past few nights. Also Kyle has new sores and infection in his non-broken foot so he is wearing the boot on one foot and a surgical shoe on the other. We've spent more money on prescriptions for the 2 of us in the last month than most families probably do in a year. Wouldn't you think at some point in the past 3 years the health issues would have at least slowed down?

The hole from the staff infection in my leg.



In this one you can see a small amount of the bruising
 from the pressure they used to drain the infection.



I Am Grateful For...

• Kyle and the wonderful man he is and the great way he treats me and lets me know he loves me.
• My Heavenly Father - when I've had no where else to turn he is always there to listen to me and somehow offer comfort that things will eventually be okay.
• My aunt Kathy's positive attitude as she deals with the effects of Huntington's Disease.  I've never heard her complain and she is always so happy just to be with us.  What a great example for me.
• Jenny, Blake and their boys and the selfless way they have taken Kathy into their home and the love and care they give her.  We should all be so Christlike. 
• My Parent's and the unconditional love and support they always give us.
• My Dad for loving Kyle like his own son and taking him under his wing.
• My Family (extended too of course).  They are always there no matter what.
• The Willis Family - They have loved me like their own.
• My Friends - What would I do without their support?
• The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and the wonderful programs they have to help us.  I know I got my job because of the things I learned in the career class I took at the employment center.  They help so many people in so many ways.
• My new job at ARUP - I am working with wonderful people who make me feel so welcome.
• Modern medicine - I know Kyle wouldn't be here without it.
• Great pharmacist's at Sam's Club - Roger and James have been wonderful to work with us.
• Dr. Henninger - I asked him to perform a miracle and he did.  What more can I say.
• That Kyle still has his foot - Prayers are answered.
• The wonderful people I am working with - It makes going to work so much easier.
• A nice car to drive - It's nice to be able to drive to work in warmth.
• A nice place to live - Kyle's parents have been so generous in making us feel welcome.
• Technology: laptop, ipod, cell phones - what would we do without them?
• Nice clothes to wear
• Lilly & Button
• A comfortable bed to sleep in
• My electric blanket
• Alarm clocks
• DVR - I'm addicted.  I can't stand to watch commercials anymore.
• A comfortable pair of jeans - I would wear them everyday if I could.
• A soft sweatshirt - Especially on a cold winters day.
• Music - Especially the christmas music at this time of year.
• Mom taught me to crosstitch and do other craft things - I find joy in creating beautiful things.
• The answer to prayers in whatever way they come.
• The blessings that have been in every challenge and trial we have been through.
• Children - my nephews & nieces, and my cousin's little ones.
• Hugs from the above mentioned children.
• Britney who sends me cards just when I need them most.
• The Internet
• My wonderful grandparents and the life lessons they have taught me.
• Being able to live in the house Grandma lived in for 3 years.  I felt comforted by that during some very hard times.
• Marlee and her quirky sense of humor.
• Marijka and her willingness to help me out with all kinds of projects.
• Chocolate milk
• Pudding - rice, chocolate, tapioca - I'm not too picky
• Popcorn
• Hot soup on a cold day

There is much more I'm sure I can come up with, but it's WAY past my bedtime so this will do for now.  I hope you all took a minute yesterday to remember what you are grateful for.

Happy Thanksgiving

When I think of everything we have to be grateful for this year our families are inevitably tied to each thing. We never would have made it through the past few years without them and their love and support. We still have our struggles but we are in a much better place than we were last year at this time. In so many ways. We would be very ungrateful if today on Thanksgiving we didn't thank our family and friends for their love and concern for us. As I sit here in a warm comfy house getting ready to eat a delicious dinner my mind turns to those who don't have these same blessings. Especially our men and women who are serving in our military or are serving missions for the church and are away from their homes and family today. I hope they know they are loved and appreciated. I am also thankful that Uncle Robert's surgery went as well as it did and pray that the news continues to be good for him. Happy Thankgiving to you all.

The Move

For those of you who may not know I recently accepted a job at ARUP Laboratories in Salt Lake City.  Kyle and I made the tough decision to move to Salt Lake rather than me try to commute.  It has been hard to leave Grandma's house.  There has been some comfort to living there while we have gone through all the trials of the past few years.  I had it fixed up the way I liked and it is always hard to leave home.  It will be hard to see someone besides family living there.  I've lived in Wellsville for 36 years so this will be a big change for me, but I know it is what we are to do and I will be fine.  It's not like I moved to Connecticut like Brett and Chelsea.  I can be back in Wellsville in an hour and 15 minutes. 

Kyle's parents have a kitchen in their basement and generously offered to let us live there as long as we need to.  I started work today so we packed everything up last week and made the move on Saturday.  I have an amazing family (including Emily and Natalie of course) and they were so incredible last week as they pitched in with packing everything up.  Then on Saturday Darrin Roundy and some of the scouts from our ward came and helped load up everything going to storage and went and unloaded it.  Then my family loaded up the rest and came to Salt Lake.  We owe them all big time. 

Kat, Darren, and Brian met us and helped us unload everything.  Kyle's parents spent last week cleaning their stuff out of the basement so we have room for all of our junk.  They went above and beyond what I expected and we really appreciate all the work they have gone to, to make us feel welcome and at home. 

Things went well today for my first day.  It was orientation today and tomorrow so it's not like it could really go badly.  Two of the ladies I will be working closely with came and had lunch with me and I really think I will enjoy working with them.  They seem like wonderful women. 

Now we just have to unpack all these boxes and we will be settled in.

Last Minute Yellowstone Trip

A week after I had the surgery on my knees Dad decided we should go to Yellowstone.  That was on Tuesday and we left Wednesday afternoon.  We spent Wednesday night in West Yellowstone and went into the Park in the morning.  That afternoon Jan, Matt, Marlee, and Marijka came.  They had already planned a trip so we basically were hoarding in on their trip.  None of them would stay in the trailer with us so it was just the four of us.  We got up Friday morning and had breakfast and were messing around getting ready to go  for a ride.  I was in the trailer and heard horns honking and then I swore I heard Susan's voice.  Susan, Emily, Natalie, and the kids had all come at the last minute.  Brett and Chelsea had left for Connecticut the day before and Susan was feeling a little down and Natalie was able to reserve some cabins. The kids loved the animals.  We saw several bears.  There was a dead buffalo in the river and we saw 4 bears eating on the carcass.  It was neat to see the kids see the buffalo and stuff for the first time.  We had a lot of fun.  Of course the trip wouldn't be complete without a little car trouble.  Natalie brought new brakes, but when they got them off it turned out it was more involved and Dad and Kyle had to run to Cody for more parts  Dad, Mom, Kyle and I went from Yellowstone to Bear Lake and spent the next week there.  Dad had to work but the rest of us had a good time.

Button Makes a New Friend

Kyle's dog is very skittish and doesn't like anyone to touch her but Kyle and after several months me.  If anyone approaches her she crouches down on the floor and starts shaking uncontrollably.  To my surprise the other night at one of our gatherings Garrett comes through carrying Button.  How he got her to hold still long enough for him to pick her up is beyond me as she usually takes off running if any of the kids get anywhere close to her.  Not only did Button let Garrett hold her for a long time she wasn't shaking the whole time either.  It was quite an accomplishment on Garrett's part.  Garrett says Button is his "best dog".  I assume that is something like being his best friend.  Every time I see him he wants to know where Button is and since then when we've been together Button has let him hold her as well.

Our Anniversary Get Away

Thanks to the generosity of our loved ones Kyle and I were able to spend some time in Park City for our anniversary.  I was informed that I had to spend the money I received for my birthday on something fun so we used it to go down the Alpine Slide, the Alpine Coaster, and the Zip Line.  We went to dinner at the No Name Saloon for our anniversary dinner and it was really good.  They have really good mozzarella sticks and Kyle said his buffalo burger was excellent and my fish and chips were really good.  They have a good batter.

The leaves were already changing and it was absolutely beautiful.

Happy Anniversary to Us!!!

Today is Kyle and my 2nd wedding anniversary.  We were sure blessed when Heavenly Father led us to each other.  I'm not sure either of us would have made it through the past two years without the other to lean on and pull each other through the trials we've been through.  We have spent many nights sleeping together in a hospital bed and I don't think you can get much closer than that.  I think we have both aged about 20 years in the last two.  I thought about doing a recap of all we have gone through but that would just depress me and if you don't know you can just look back through the blog to catch up.  We have faith that I'm going to get a good job soon and that things are going to turn around for us.  We read a plaque today that said, "Whoever said that less is more, doesn't know what they are talking about."  We totally agree with this statement. 

I love Kyle so much.  He has a huge heart and would do anything for those he loves.  He takes good care of me and shows me he loves me in so many ways.  Despite everything he has been through and continues to deal with he stays positive and doesn't complain.  Whenever you ask him how he is then his answer is always that he is fine.  It's a good thing I've learned to see through that.  I would not be happy if I had been told I had to spend the next six months wearing a big boot, but he just took it in stride and doesn't whine about it.  At times it seems the last two years have flown by and at others it seems like we have been together forever.  We are looking forward to many more years together and figure that after the last two the rest should be a breeze.  Thanks for all of your love and support.  We never would have made it this far without our amazing family and friends.

LOTOJA

Brian rode in the LOTOJA bike race for the 7th time on September 10th.  Craig, Dad, and Kyle were his support team.  Susan, Mom, Marlee, Marijka, and I followed along and cheered every rider we passed.  It would safe to say that Mom and Susan were having a pretty darn good time.  Things went down hill quickly when we went to check into the condo and found out that it was reserved for June instead of September.  Brian was totally exhausted and we couldn't find anywhere to stay so we all had to get in the cars and drive back home.  I felt so bad for him, but I did end up being home for my birthday.

Baby Shower for Lola

Jessica had her baby on July 22nd and weighed 5 lbs 10 oz.  She went past her due date and when she went into labor she had some complications and ended up having a C-Section.  Her name is Lola Kai Twiggs.  The week after she was born their family went up to Bear Lake.  Mary Ann arranged for us to meet at Marie Callender's on August 6th for a shower on their way from Bear Lake to Snowbird.