I think Spring might be on its way... wait..no, never mind

And what a winter it was. I spent my days lounging on the couch, listening to the hum of the washing machine every Monday and Thursday, and the yammering of daytime tv the rest of the week. It's been fun. Not really. Just when I thought, "Man I wish I could just take a break for goodness sake!!" I got one. A really long one. From November to February, and beyond! On February twenty-something, I had arthroscopic surgery on my knee. It was so much fun! I got to wear a cute purple gown, some snazzy TED stockings for compression, cuz' goodness knows, they weren't for fashion! Oh, and I got some really adorable purple socks to keep my feet warm and fuzzy--not that my feet are normally fuzzy....never mind. The socks matched the gown! I remember being wheeled into the operating room and meeting the surgical nurse. I don't remember her name because as she greeted me she put a shot of some lovely liquid into my I.V. The next thing I know, I'm hearing a very strange conversation about gender reassignment surgery on one side of me and another about Kadafi across the room. Weird! I was waking up and I let them know I was waking up! Hellooo! My knee was wrapped as big as a football. Or at least it felt that way. It hurt at level 5. On the pain level scale, ya know? As the vicodin kicked in, I felt blissfully happy. I mean BLISS-fully! You know that part on "Look Who's Talking" where Kirstie Alley says, "I love you really much!" THAT is exactly how I felt. Right then and there I vowed to get off that stuff ASAP! No one should be that happy. Ever. Recovery went as well as could be expected. I had ANGELS bring me food! I'm so grateful for that! My days were full of ice, Advil, cheesy movies, and warm snugly blankets. And then, I just wanted to get up and GO! I still do. In time, I suppose. It's been almost seven weeks now and after a minor set back, I feel pretty good, thank you very much! That set back was a nasty run in with the bathtub. As I was stepping into said tub, my foot slipped and my operated knee slammed into the side of the tub. I may have said some colorful words, but there were no witnesses so I can't be sure. All I know, was that I was sure that at any moment there was going to be a tunnel with a light emanating from the end of it and some beloved ancestors were going to be waiting for me very soon. ouch. After a week of mostly mild pain, I'm feeling great! Still a bit stiff and not super strong yet. But I am getting there!

The January that lasted for months...

Everett and I were reflecting on the weeks that have passed since Christmas. We agreed that it seems like months ago that we celebrated Christmas. School started on the 4th, I think. It was SO long ago, I can't remember! Everett had his first orthodontic appointment, a week later, his second, and voila', now he has braces! Several days were spent in a fair amount of pain for him. Advil is a wonder drug, I'm tellin' ya'! He ate lots of pudding for three days or so. Not too rough!

I had an MRI on my knee which I injured doing something healthy back in August. I stopped going to Crossfit in July. I loved it! It worked! In a lapse of judgement, I decided to stop going. I'd been going for over a year! Instead I started running/walking and doing some other stuff to keep active. Well, one day I thought I'd do some squats after a run--not unusual for me. This particular day I did them too fast and felt/heard a snap in my knee. It didn't hurt at all. I just thought it popped, no big deal. The next day it hurt. A LOT. And for several days thereafter. It was swollen, I iced it, took Advil (Ahhhh!). I felt 'better' and started doing my thing again. Well, four months later (Dec) I went to the doctor because it still hurt, still does a month later. He said, "You either have arthritis, or a torn meniscus." Great. A chronic condition or something that may need surgery. Fast forward...Got the MRI (wow those things are NOISY) and today will go back to see the doctor for the results. I just want to run!!!! Did I just say that? I must be crazy! What are the side effects of Advil overdose??

It's Beginning to Look a lot Like Christmas!

I'm not sure who I'm writing for anymore. Maybe just myself. :) It's been too long and I'm not sure anyone reads this anymore. We've been busily preparing for the Christmas season. It started with Everett's winter concert at the Hult Center. Always a pleasure to see! Then came the practices for the Stake Christmas Concert. Camille and I are singing in the stake choir and I am accompanying the choir (along with several other instrumentalists) on the flute. We're performing the "Hallelujah Chorus" by Handel. My fingers ache by the end of that one! I'm also performing with two flutist friends in a trio with Terry accompanying us on the piano. That concert will be next Sunday. I love the music of the season! LOVE it!


The girls are eagerly awaiting Santa's arrival and have given their lists to me to pass along. They are so cute! Lindsey is at the pivotal age where she is beginning to wonder about the reality of Santa. Of course, it doesn't help to have an older brother and sister who have spilled the beans. She's still wondering though. Claire is experiencing Christmas for the first time really. She's three and full of wonder! She was smitten with Santa when he arrived to the ward Christmas Party. The mall Santa doesn't wear the furry red suit, so she isn't buying into him at all. He wears his red pants with a Christmasy shirt and suspenders. He has the fluffy white beard and candy canes to give away. Sort of a "Santa-off-the-clock" look. Claire is not interested. Gotta' have the suit! Funny girl!




Enjoy the photos! ('Cause I know the writing isn't all that great!)
Happy December, Friends!

Wow, a NEW Post!

Blogging has not been a part of my schedule in a long time but, here's a quick update on the family...

* Summertime came and went. Everett started his break by going on a Pioneer Re-enactment Trek in Southern Washington in June. It lasted three days and he loved it! It was hard, and hot, and exhausting. He'd love to do that every summer! He earned three merit badges and is super close to a rank advancement in scouts.
* Camille spend her summer days reading, making beaded crafts, and spending time with her friends. She attended a Horse Day Camp where she learned some riding skills and horse care. She loved that! Her friend recently got her own horse and guess who wants a horse. (!) We settled on a cat. Her name is Sandy.
* Lindsey took swimming lessons and has done an amazing job! She is a natural athlete, I think. She climbs the rope swing at Crossfit like a little monkey! She loves sports and likes wearing her fast-running shoes. She can even ride a two-wheeler without training wheels.
* Claire is a little sweetheart! She loves books. I mean LOVES them! Especially SkippyJon Jones and Dora. She can be found in Daddy's lap reading books whenever Daddy is home!
* As for me and Terry.....We've survived the summer, and that is more than we could have hoped! I did get to take a trip to Denver with two friends who are Scentsy consultants. They attended a Scentsy Convention while I played and visited my favorite Denver spots. It was a great trip!

Today is the first day of school! These kiddos were so excited to go! Everett is in eighth grade, Camille is in fifth grade, Lindsey is in first grade (all day!), and Claire is my little homebody this year. She'll go to preschool next year. I wanted to have some flexibility this year and not have to be concerned with drop-offs and pick-ups for a little while. I have watched the clock today out of habit.

Happy School Year, Friends!