I'm Green

What's Your True Color?

My Result: Green

You're green, the color of growth and vigor. Good-hearted and giving, you have a knack for finding and bringing out the best in people. Green is the most down-to-earth color in the spectrum — reliable and trustworthy. People know they can count on you to be around in times of need, since your concern for people is genuine and sincere. You take pride in being a good friend. For you, success is measured in terms of personal achievement and growth, not by status or position. Rare as emeralds, greens are wonderful, natural people. It truly is your color!

What are you?
http://web.tickle.com/jumpto?test=colorogt&c=50652

The kids summer Adventures--Thanks to family

The Saturday after my surgery while I was still on bed rest, my Aunt Lorrie was brave enough to take all four kids for me up to her cabin in Big Cottonwood Canyon for the day. She provided lunch for them, played with them down at the stream by her cabin and then brought them home. The kids had a blast. Here are some pictures that the kids took at the cabin. Lorrie took the picture with all four kids.

Just haning out

Today is day 2 post surgery. The first night after surgery was a long night. I wasn't able to hold down pain medication all afternoon the first day. Finally at 11pm I took pain meds and kept them down. I was unable to sleep much that night, it is hard to stay in one position in the cpm machine for the whole night. Wednesday was better. I was so tired I slept well, pain meds stayed down and I could finally get comfortable. Jonah and Mason went to cub scout day camp on wednesday and today. They had a blast yesterday; they talked about it for a couple of hours after they came home. I had some neighbors who helped take the girls for the day, the girls have been more of a challenge to keep entertained. My relief society president came by yesterday and brought food for sandwiches for lunch and she helped fold and put away laundry for me.

Today, thursday, the girls are down at the neighbors again, thank goodness. This neighbor is an older couple that are babysitting their grandkids this week and Ellie and Jess play well with the kids. Nancy also feeds my kids and keeps them until I am ready for them to come home. The boys went to camp again today, I can't wait to hear of their experiences.

I received flowers today from my sisters and parents. Thank you!!! Attatched is a picture of me in the cpm machine holding the flowers.

Steph's Knee surgery

Early to rise the morning of Tues. June 17th, get the kids dressed and out to their Aunt Laura's early in the am and off to the surgery center for me. Surgery went well. TOSH is a great hospital. I am always so impressed how friendly and nice every one is. This is my first surgery under a general anesthesia since my oral surgery in 5th grade. I decided I don't like waking up out of anesthesia. I just wanted to sleep and the nurses are so bothersome; "Wake up.", "Take a deep breath.", "Take a drink.", "Here are some pain meds.", "Wake up and a take a deep breath." Why can't they just let you sleep???? Ha, ha.

The repair went well. Instead of cutting off the part of the meniscus that was folded, the doctor stitched it all down which slightly changed my time of recovery. I cannot put any weight on my left leg for one week where before they would have let me put weight on my leg. I am on bed rest for 7 days. I thought Dr. West wasn't completely serious when he said seven days of bed rest, but he was very serious. I am in a CPM machine (constant passive motion) for 24 hrs a day for seven days. I can get up to shower and go to the bathroom and that's it.

Some neighbors brought dinner in tonight. Jeff picked up the kids from his sisters. She was so sweet to take Jonah and Mason swimming with her cub scout den and helped them pass off swimming things so they could earn a pin and a belt loop. I am so grateful to everyone for helping us and helping the kids stay on top of things and have summer fun while I am on bed rest.

Father's Day

We want to wish Jeff a happy father's day!!! Jeff was able to do a little shopping for himself on saturday. He knew I wouldn't be able to get the kids out to shop for him so they picked a gift from the things he bought and they were so glad to give him such nice gifts. We were able to make Jeff father's day breakfast. Jonah and Mason made baked french toast the night before so in the morning all we had to do was put it in the oven and bake it sunday morning. The boys did cook some sausage in the am to go with it. We had a nice evening up at Jeff's grandma's including swimming, BBQ hotdogs and hamburgers. Thanks for being such a wonderful husband and father Jeff. He gets extra brownie points this week for playing both mom and dad and handy-man while he remodels the hall bathroom. We love you!!! This picture is of Jeff cooking dutch oven desserts at the ward party the day before father's day.

Little Helpers

I finally slept well on tuesday night, the pain in my knee was finally under control. Jeff hesitantly went to work Wednesday morning. I reassured him that the kids and I could survive while he was at work for half a day. I slept in. Jonah came in and asked me "Mom what temperature do you put the griddle on for pancakes and eggs?" I was still sleeping and answered, 350. A few minutes later he returned, "Mom how much pancake batter should we use?", "One and a half cups I replied." They have helped me make pancakes many times so I knew they could probably do it. Some time later all four kids were standing by me saying mom wake up breakfast is ready. When I opened my eyes, there was breakfast. (Note above picture) The boys had brought the piano bench upstairs and put next to the bed, there was a plate with pancakes, eggs and yogurt, another plate with two slices of toast; one with jam another with cinnamon sugar, a tall cup of chocolate milk and syrup. WOW!!! All of my nerve racking, cooking with my kids experiences paid off. Ellie cooked the pancakes, Mason cooked the eggs and Jonah said he helped Mason and Ellie so nothing burned and they were able to make it perfect. Notice the beautiful golden color of the pancakes and the beautiful presentation of the food. I was impressed. The kids did what ever I asked them to that day; get dressed, make beds, sorted laundry and started it. Jessica helped my shower. We then played card games and dominoes for a couple of hours, then watched a movie. Jeff came home and spent an hour cleaning the kitchen. ( I didn't say everything was flawless.) My mom flew in tonight to stay a couple of days and help us out.

A Change of Plans

On monday the 9th of June I started training in a new department at work. I have changed from the medical unit to the Wound/ET team. I have decided that nights and weekends are not benefiting our family any more, maybe because I'm getting too old to go on such little sleep. The wound team has regular office hours M-F 8-5 and rotating saturdays 9-3. I will still only work a few hours a week but am able to work while the kids are in school, with the exception of Jessica. I enjoyed my first day of training and was looking forward to the new change. On Monday night, we went up Mill Creek canyon to roast hot dogs and marshmellows for family home evening. We ran into our neighbors, The Fordhams, there and we had a group marshmellow roast. Towards the end of our evening my knee buckled under me as it has been doing more frequently, only this time I couldn't move it or walk on it afterwards like I have been able to do before. The pain was intense and I knew I would be seeing a doctor this time.

I decided to wait until morning and get into TOSH with an orthopedist. The pain became excruciating during the night even with Lortab (leftover from Jeff's accident last summer.) and it was a very long night. In the am we went to St. Mark's ER since TOSH didn't have any openings til late in the day. After x-rays and painful examination the MD thought I had a torn ACL. I was given a pain shot and crutches and headed to TOSH (with an ER visit and a probable diagnosis they said to come right over.). The knee specialist saw me in between surgeries, ordered and MRI and said I would be having a surgery to repair a torn ACL and torn meniscus. The MRI confirmed that I needed the surgery sooner than later and I will go in on 6/17 to have it done. That is Tamara's birthday, I'll try and dream about her while under sedation. Ha, ha. By tuesday evening the pain was much more controlled and I was able to get some rest. I am grateful for the crutches as I can go to the bathroom on my own and I don't have to rely on Jeff piggy-backing me into the bathroom. Jeff has been very attentive and patient through the last two days, thanks honey. So my summer plans have changed to bed rest, physical therapy and laying around playing card games with the kids.

Our Garden

We finally have our garden in!!! Yipee!!! Mason and I went to Mill Creek Gardens to buy little vegetable plants and while were there we had complimentary hamburgers and brawtwursts, yummm. So we had a fun little date together. We came home and started planting. Jeff had prepared the garden a couple of weeks before so the planting went fast. We planted corn, tomatoes, peppers, squash and Mason wanted to try eggplant so I told him one plant would be sufficient. Jonah joined us half-way through and the two boys worked hard to make it look like a "farmer's garden". Hopefully all will grow well and we can have plenty of salsa during the fall.

End of School

I haven't posted for sooo long I have some catching up to do. The school year came to a fun end. The kids were excitedly counting down the days until the last. We were hoping to have some fun after school ice cream socials but it was usually rainy. I was able to go with Ellie's Kindergarten class to the park. Jonah and Mason went the same day to the park with their class.

All three kids did so well in school. Mason received a certificate at the schools awards assembly for most improved reader. For his grades, he received one 4 and the rest were 5's. ( 5 being the highest. I guess it is equivalent to an A). Jonah did great also, he received an award for something. (I can't remember but I will edit this post and put in the title of the award as soon as I find out.) Jonah also had an outstanding report card with two 4's and the rest were 5's. I am so proud of how well they both have done in school. There were some struggles with reading and math in the beginning but they didn't give up and they kept working with their teachers and tutors and now they are above average readers and excellent in math. (It is my personal blog so I think I have the right to boast.)

Ellie's teachers were sad to see her move on. She was one of the best kids in the class and one of the top readers also. Hopefully they all stay so motivated, even through high school.

On Friday, June 6th, in celebration of school being out, Jeff took the day off and we went bowling and to see The new Indiana Jones movie. We had a lot of fun.