Oh That GUY

Hey ya all, I'm doing the hen peck thing so we'll see how long this turns out to be.As you can tell from the previou posts...daddy is the man! He fusses around and over me a ton. In fact he runs the vacumn and does the dishes before he heads off to work.....and bless the man...he drags himself off to work now...all the harder cause retirement is now a reailty and I am usually still snug in bed. I cant imagine me cleaning,cooking and taking care of someone who gets to lay around doing pretty much nothing for a month and not ending up resenting it......but not my sweet eternal companion. He writes me sweet cards and leaves them for me to find during the day....amazing huh. When I was searching for him as a kid, I thought that I had a pretty demanding list of who I thought he needed to be. He has filled all my dreams and then been so much more...all I ever never knew that I needed. I laugh when people warn me that
I will go crazy having him home with me all of the time...getting in the way. Thats never been a problem for us...and I honestly count the days like a kid till we can be like that...what concerns me more is who I need need to be, as a young girl I knew in my prideful little heart that Iwas clean and pure and Deserved that boy I was looking for...but now, after all of these years of living with this wonderful man, I am alot more insecure about who I am as a worthy companion for him. Its interesting the lessons lifes experiences teach us. I am so thankful for that careful choice I made all those years ago that has brought me such happiness and gotten me to this wonderful stage of life...pray for me that i can hang tight to DADDYS COAT TAILS as he zips us through these retirement years! In my eyes he is SUPER MAN....cant you see us flying!

Dreams!

So get this! Mom and I woke up this morning dicussing out dreams. She was flying a hot pink Barbie car, or at least that colot. I was cleaning the frig. She leans over and say: "You don't have to clean the frig, why do you get up!" You can imagine where we wanted to go with those dreams, huh?

I got my substitute today so I can take mom in on Wednesday for her doctor's appointment. I can't keep mom cooped up, either! She went out shopping today, after bring my gradebook to school. I had a District Meeting tonight after school and stopped to shop for her on the way home. Getting my domestic skills down, real well!

Hope you are not dreaming like we are!
Love you all,
Dad

I'm here for you!

Dear Family,

Mom goes into the doctor this January 26, Wednesday for the follow up with the surgeon. The surgeon will check on her progress. The stitches, bandages, soft case may be removed and then a hard cast will be applied. Eventually, she will get to the point of doing some exercises to strengthen the hand/ thumb, help regain flexiblity, and restore proper function.

She is doing better. She is reducing the pain medication. Mom gave me the pamphlet about here surgery. She had basal joint arthristis. The doctor removed the diseased joint in in her thumb and replaced it with the tendon that was already there, just stretched. that being attached, there should be less pain and she will be able to use her thumb again.

We will keep you posted. In the mean time, I do the shopping house cleaning, cooking. Quit laughing... I know this sound hilarious!

She is already getting tired of being cooped up all day. She will out one time last week, but was worried all the time about her hand. She did not go out today. Her hand was hurt some what today. We will se about tomorrow about church. There will be plenty of time in the future for church. Last week she asked me where I was right before church. I said I was coming home right after Sacrament Meeting. I guess she thought I was coming home to get her. No, way... way too soon to be back at church.

Oh, I have to tell you about a phone converstion, I had with mom last week. She must have just woke up, because our conversation went so slow as you can inagine when you are on pain medication. I finally had to hang up. Not her fault at all, but really funny trying to keep a conversation going.

So how is everyone doing. Keep the phone calls coming, just don't expect conversation with mom!

Love you all,

Dad

Success!

Hi,
Mom went into surgery last Thursday. I took the day off to be with her. We went in at 10:30 thinking we could get a jump on the crowd, but we did not get in until 11:36. The prep to ok forever, since mom's viens are so tiny. After three sticks, they got the a vein so they could start the medicaation to put her out. Yes, mom was glad she did not have to be await. they started the surgery at 1:30 and she was done about 3:30pm. Recovery till about 5:30 and home by 6:00pm. Just about an all day affair!
The Docotor was very pleased with the operation and feels that Cathy will be satisfied with the results. #1 the pain should be gone and They took their time to get it right. The procedure was a little different since she had the cosmetic surery before becasue of the bruise, and to miss that area she made a different cut but took care of most the problem areas. Time will tell, but she is resting and out of pain due to the medication
I know I have been a poor nurse, but I am all she has!
Love you all,
Dad

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year!

So much has happened since we last wrote. We left for Provo to beat the snow on Dec 17, right before my meeting with PERS, our retirement organization. We saw accidents along the way but enjoyed reunions with Maria and Kyle in Clearfield and Melissa and Justin and their new arrival Gavin last Dec 11th, and Mike and Mandy with little LeAnna. The season was great with snow and a perfect Christmas at the Schoenharts 7:30am, then to Hills 830am,and off the Clearfield with the Standings. In one day, we got to see all our grandchild in Utah! What a great Christmas it was! We stayed till Melissa's camera shoot of a wedding and then raced home to beat the snow. IN LaGrande we had a 3 hour wait and then another hour on top of the mountains.Our goal was to get home in 24 hours, we made it in 19! Yeah! I took a half day to get my retirement papers in on January 3, 2011. I will retire Febuary 1, 2011 and then work till the end of the year. This has been some year and retirement will be a new path. Things will not set in until the end of the school year, but I am starting to clear out the files and cabinets.First week back to school as usual, was fine. Kids are still adjusting from the break.
Our new ward schedule is at 9 am, and I have to be in Estacada at 10am. As usual, mom is a married widow since I now stay at Estacada Ward .In Estacada, I called a new Ward Excutive Secretary and set apart Bro Jason Richards as well as new second counselor in the Elder's Quorum, David Church. Busy day, as I started at 5:30 to get out there by 6:30am for Bishopric meeting andthen PEC.
Mom goes into the hospital, this Thursday weather permitting, for surgury on her thumb joint. This has been long in coming. She will get a blessing Wednesday. I mention the weather because the last week the temperature has been warm, but will return mid week with possible snow/ice.
Join with us on Jan 18, 2011 for a fast for MIke who will be taking an important test for entrance of his Master's Program. We have all the confidence will will do great!
Love you all,
Dad