ChatterBox Tunes

I finally got it done---after envying Cheril and Jaime's playlists and telling myself--I gotta get some tunes...I finally took time to make my own. There were a few technical difficulties late last night in getting it onto my blog, but eventually it worked! So check out my tunes--they're some of my favorite classics (a few are mine and Scott's songs from almost 20 years ago--boy are we getting old or what??) ENJOY!

Memorial Day at Grandma and Grandpa's House

Memorial Day was fun at Grandma and Grandpa's house. All of the grandchildren were there. They roasted marshmallows over a fire, the older boys camped in the backyard and they all swam in the pool. They played baseball too and just enjoyed being with each other and with their Grandparents.

Morgan's Knee Surgery

Morgan's knee surgery is scheduled for Tuesday June 3rd. We went to the Orthopedic Surgeon yesterday and he told us that she has torn her ACL, MCL and PCL ligaments--some have complete tears (can't remember which ones). He will repair her MCL and ACL with an allograft in this surgery, then will possibly have to do surgery on her PCL in 9 months. He did not want to do them all in one surgery due to possible recovery complications. She'll go to Physical Therapy on Monday afternoon after doing Pre-Op at the hospital. Her surgery will be at Gwinnett Medical Center in Duluth and she'll have to stay overnight. She will need Physical Therapy 3 times a week after surgery---the Dr. says she will probably need about 40 sessions---and be on crutches for 2 months with no weight on her leg for the 1st month, then some weight in the 2nd month and full weight by the 8th week, all with a knee brace/immobilizer. Looks like recovery will be awhile--6-9 months for a full recovery. She's a trooper though--she's trying her best to be positive about this. We really like her Doctor--he's very experienced in this type of injury and surgery. Thanks everyone for the phone calls, emails, comments on my blog and for all your prayers. Please continue to keep her in your prayers.

Update on Morgan

We went back to the Ortho Dr. yesterday and he gave us the sad news. The MRI shows that her PCL is completely torn with possible tearing to the ACL, lots of bruising and fluid, etc. She will need surgery to repair her knee. We go see an Orthopedic Surgeon that specializes in Sports Medicine in Duluth (NE Atlanta area---and near our home) next Wednesday. He's already reviewed her MRI report and also says she needs surgery. We're hoping it can be orthoscopic. From what we hear, she's looking at 6-8 weeks on her crutches/immobilizer. We'll find out more what to expect next week. Thanks everyone for your calls and emails to check on her. Will keep you updated.

What do I want to be when I grow up?

I know--I'm a little old to be asking this question, surely by now I should have that figured out. Especially since the big 4-0 will be coming up in a few weeks. Jacob has already told me I'll have to let him know what it's like "being over the hill"--- Back to my question. I'm not positive what I want to be when I grow up--but after a week of Morgan being on crutches and her leg in an immobilizer, I can tell you for sure that I DON"T want to be a nurse!! I realize she has the worst part of this deal because of the pain she is so valiantly enduring, but....changing out and moving ice packs around every 20-30 min., elevating her leg and foot, serving water/drinks, snacks, and meals on a regular basis (such as when I finally sit down for a minute), bringing her school books, laptop, gathering clothes, towels for her semi-shower and washing her hair for her, and regular trips to the "little girls room", along with much complaining that she wants to walk, bend her leg, be off crutches, go somewhere, that she's bored and most of all not feel the pain anymore---pretty much takes up the entire day. And if it doesn't, then she calls out Mom I need you again........I am thankful that I can be at home with her and help her through this--(she and I both are wishing recovery to speed along---it's going to be a very long 6 weeks) and I am very grateful that she seems to be doing so well---her knee and foot is still very swollen and bruised up. She goes for her MRI tomorrow morning and we hope to know by Monday if she will have to have surgery.

On my quest to discovering what I want to be when I grow up---I have enrolled back in college again, working on my accounting degree that I hope to one day finish. Although I no longer have a deep interest in this profession. After doing books for almost 20 years, it's starting to get a little boring. I do still enjoy balancing accounts/spreadsheets though:) What a thrill, huh? But I think my passion is being a hairdresser. I have checked out several cosmetology schools over the years, but have never started classes because of the time commitment (about 40 hrs. a week and on Saturdays). I do hope one day the timing will be right for me to pursue that dream. So for now it looks like I will continue on in Accounting......until I know what I really want to be. What do you want to be when you grow up?

Mother's Day.......We have much to be Thankful For!

We have so much to be thankful for this Mother's Day---it turned out to be quite the evening. My sister in law--Lori and I made dinner for our Mother's and after dinner, the kids (Ross and Loran Elizabeth and Morgan and Jacob) were riding the "Mule" ( http://www.kawasaki.com/Products/Detail.aspx?id=304 ) as they do so often. But that day, as they rounded a curve and hit mud, it flipped over on the passenger side. Morgan stuck out her foot to try to keep it from going over, but she was no match for it and her leg buckled underneath and it flipped anyway. We went to the emergency room and took xrays and luckily there were no broken bones. Her foot has deep tissue bruising ("contusion of the right- foot"---she thinks this is such a funny name and is proudly calling it by the official medical name!!) and ligaments are torn in her knee. We went to the Orthopedic Dr. yesterday and they have ordered an MRI so he will know the extent of the damage and if surgery will be necessary. As of now, we are looking at 6 wks. on crutches and the immobilizer on her knee and 3-6 months before it's completely healed--the MRI could change things though--will keep you posted. Loran Elizabeth has a mild concussion and blurry vision and seeing spots---we think she hit the roll bar or back of the seat. She had a C.T. scan on Monday and goes to the eye Dr. tomorrow. Jacob made it out with no injuries and Ross has a sore shoulder from lifting the "Mule" back upright---the adrenalin was definitely flowing!! They all had their seatbelts on--thanks to Randy reminding them just minutes before this accident---otherwise it probably could have been much worse. We are so thankful that nobody was seriously hurt--at least so far. As I was running through the woods and could see Morgan laying on the ground, thoughts such as broken neck, paralysis was running through my mind--so we will definitely take the torn ligaments over that. We think Loran will be okay too--she just has an awful headache, and her vision is getting better. Will know more tomorrow. We feel we have been so blessed.


We are also thankful for my Mother. My Mother is an awesome piano player (and organist)--she has been playing at church since she was 12 years old. She taught me and my siblings a love of music--especially the piano, she also was a Hair-Dresser for many years and taught me to love doing hair and I was many times (along with my sisters) her guniea pig for hair coloring and new hairdo's as we were growing up. When I was 13, she went back to school and got her Masters Degree in English......She became a High School English Teacher and she has always taught me to love reading, learning and journaling. She keeps a journal faithfully and many times when we're having a family dinner if somebody is trying to remember something from years past, she will go to her room and pull out one of her journals. It is so fun to remember those childhood memories. Here is a picture of my Mom and my baby sister Ronda (Lisa--we missed you--wish you could have been here!)

For my Mom's Mother's Day gift, my family and Randy's family cleaned out her flower beds, and overgrown brush around their property.

This is a picture of my family we took at my parents house on Sunday afternoon. The wind was blowing like crazy!! (ignore the date of this picture and the one of my Mom--we had the wrong date on the camera--oops!)

"Living After the Manner of Happiness"

I know I have heard/read this phrase before, probably in an Ensign talk, (but was glad to see this article in my ldsliving email tonight--http://www.ldslivingmagazine.com/articles/show/1510), I thought the first time I saw it, what an odd phrase--"manner of happiness". What does that mean--manner of happiness? So of course as I usually do--I went to the dictionary and Manner in the dictionary means: how something is done, or how it happens. So, is happiness done? Does happiness happen? Yes! it does--we choose to be happy! I can remember that I learned this concept about 4-5 years ago. That it was up to me to make my happiness happen--but each time a new challenge comes up, that concept has been quickly forgotten. So here I am again focusing on the phrase. In this article (above link), it gave some great advice that I have found to work for me---These are some of the things positive psychology has discovered make a scientifically verifiable difference in people’s happiness: expressing sincere gratitude, regular exercise, good social networks, counting one’s blessings, helping people, pursuing goals, acting cheerful.--All of these are incredible at helping me move out of the self pity and depression mode and move on to positive action. I love President's Hinckley's quote: “In all of living, have much fun and laughter,” said President Gordon B. Hinckley. “Life is to be enjoyed, not just endured.” So for today, I choose to enjoy life and "Live after the Manner of Happiness"!