Baby, Graduation and a new dress !!!

What a great couple of days!!! Matt and I took off on Wednesday morning - destination - Provo, Utah. Reason - Grants graduation from BYU. Eleven hours later we arrived at our hotel. Grant had been calling us and asking where were we - so after we got our room - we went to Grant and Liz's apartment to find out what tomorrows plans where. After the big tour of their place - to see new furniture - Grant came out with gifts for both Matt and I and Liz's folks - Mary and Rod. It was obvious a picture frame and I just tore off the wrapping. I was expecting a picture of the two of them or Grant in his cap and gown but I was wrong. It took me about a second to know that I was looking at an ultra sound picture and looking at Liz for a confirmation nod -I let out a scream and threw the frame at Matt. Hugging Liz and screaming - everyone else didn't know what I was so happy about. I heard comments like "Well, it must be good". I gave Grant a hug and looked at Matt as he finally figured out the message along with Mary and Rod. We where all just laughing and smiles as we listened to how Grant and Liz where going to tell us the next day at the restaurant but couldn't wait till then. Then the stories of morning sickness that lasts all day and the almost slips of telling one person or the other. At this point who cares about graduation - I'm going to be a grandma again - number 6 is on its' way.

But we where there in Provo for Grants graduation. We got up Thursday morning and had breakfast at a very yummy restaurant. I forget the name but it was goooood. We then had to get dressed and go to graduation service number one.

We had to be there an hour before it started. Parking was crazy and we walked the whole campus. That is one huge campus!!! Grant dropped Liz off at the place so she didn't have to walk all that way - so she saved us some seats. As the graduates marched in - it took 45 minutes for them to come in and be seated - that's allot of graduates!! Turns out that Grant was almost right in front of us. He called us and said that they where starting to let people sit in the seats right behind him and if we hurried we might be able to get seats with backs to them instead of the bleacher seats we where in . Well, it worked - Matt got us good seats and it wasn't so hot either. Speakers - Russel M. Nelson and President Dieter F.Uchtdorf. President Uchtdorf speech was great and it was weird to applaud after the talks and choir number.

When all was over - we had to wait as the graduates filed out - Grant waited for us at the top of the stairs. We then went over to the apartment for a bar-b-Que and a chance to meet some of Grants and Liz's friends.
Good food - good company and video games - what more can you ask for? Matt and I went back to the room kinda early because we had to get up at 5am the next morning for the next graduation ceremony. This smaller service was to start at 8 am but the paper Grant was given said we all had to be there by 7:10 am. We got there at 7 am and where the first ones there. I was afraid that Grant miss read something but I must say by being first we got to pick the best seats. Once again we where only a few seats from Grant. We were the first row of parents and he was the last row of graduates.

Grant walking in.

Grant siting almost right in front of us -probably thinking the same thing we are - this guys speech is too long and boring.
Here he is waiting in line to go up and get the phony diploma and shake hands with the head guy of his department. If you want to see a picture of that very thing, you will have to go to his blog site because my picture was all blurry. I plan to buy the posed shot.

After that graduation was a meet and great with refreshments. We ate and left. Yea, he did it and this part is all done. Matt and I went back to the room for a two hour nap. We didn't sleep to well the night before and needed it. Then we met up with everyone for one great late lunch early dinner and a restaurant that was very good and popular. Darren had joined us now and it was still early so we went off to find something fun to do. We decided to go to Park City. On the way we stopped at some water fall. Remember this Cristy?

Then off to shop - first we tried to get some Tim Tams but no luck - they where out :( Very sad!! Then off the the outlet stores and well, I made the mistake saying that I wanted a new dress. We walked into the Dress Barn and Grant just took over. I think he could host "What not to wear" I would look at a dress and he would just shoot my choice down and give me something else to try on. He got the owner involved, she would bring something out and ask Grant if that was OK and then ask me. Then one and a half hours later I walked out with a dress I never would have tried on let alone buy. It was really fun - for me and Grant anyway!!! We checked out a baby store but decided to wait until we know if it is a granddaughter or grandson. Then off to the hotel for some sleep but first a trip to Shopko for some cold medicine. I have decided to come down with a rotten head cold. Matt and I sleep in and go to the kids apartment at 10 am for breakfast. We say good-by to everyone and off to home. I feel really rotten now and poor Matt drives the whole way home while I sleep. We made it home by 8:30pm and crash. We turned the furnish off before we left and it was 56 degrees inside the house when we got home. A cold welcome but it is always good to be home. Now back to work. :(

Darren, Darren, Darren is 24 !!!

My baby is 24!! What can I say? Darren was the last one to hug my leg, the last one to lose a tooth, last one to mow my lawn. I have always found it hard to see Darren grow up and do things - like - drive, date or graduate - because that meant I was losing my children and getting OLD.

Poor Darren had to put up with me all by himself. In other words, the rest of the kids have moved out and that left Darren, alone, to do all the chores I didn't want to do. I often said the reason you have kids is so they can do all the work you don't want to do.

The real reason Darren was sent to Hong Kong on his mission - me - I had to let go of my baby and the Lord knew this was the best way - send him far away. But two years away taught me that I could survive an empty nest. And since I learned that lesson well , I was blessed with Darren coming home with Tim Tams.

The only way to have hot chocolate!!!

Now maybe some other time I'll tell funny, embarrassing Darren stories but for now I say Happy Birthday to my Darren. 24 -the same age as my favorite TV show. Know that your mother loves you lots, tons, gobs, bunch.

AAAAAGGGGGHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!

You call this spring break? I demand a re-do!!!! I'm laughing - only to keep from crying.

Mississippi is looking really good.

Third place and another trip to the Hospital!!

First - the trip to the hospital was with Mom. I have learned that Moms heart condition has many possible side effects - this first one - fluid in the lungs - is one I don't like. We took her in to the ER because he was having a hard time breathing and when she coughed, it hurt. A couple hours later and a few more pills and we are home. Now we have to find that balance between too much water intake - for fluid in the lungs and not enough water intake for dehydration. Not fun - but Mom is great and just takes it all in stride.

Next - our local school bus road-e-o was last Friday. The weather is still bad here but who cares - somethings just have to happen. I will admit - I went into some of the events cold. Meaning I didn't practice them but I did OK. I came in third or rather tied for third, so I guess tied for fourth also. I should have come in last because I forgot to turn my headlights on. If you don't put your seat belt on or headlights on you get a big fat zero for every event. But only one judge caught that fact. Nice work judges - my bribing worked!!!! Next step is regional and that is a big maybe. Big budget cuts here - rumor has it that there will not be a state competition and if that is true some people don't want to bother with a regional competition. We should learn more in a few weeks. And yes, that picture was from last years regional competition - I didn't bring my camera on Friday.

This that and the other !!!

This past week I was able to go back to work. Getting an unexpected vacation from the job for some reason - was not as enjoyable as a vacation that I'm suppose to have. So I had a full week off because of my fall. My neck and shoulders are doing much better, thanks to my chiropractor and one trip to a physical therapist. Yes Grant I took home my staples - the Dr. kept saying - "Gross, why do you want these? This is gross - why am I supporting this?" He really couldn't believe that I asked for my staples - I have them.

Since I was bored and Matt was willing to take me shopping - we got a new chair to go with our new couch. Here it is -

It is that micro fiber material - just like the couch. Very comfortable. The pillows are down filled. A perfect watch TV chair.

Next - Matt and I went for a walk today. The weather was great - warmed up to a balmy 50 degrees. It feels so warm after the cold we have had. The snow is starting to go away and I thought I could actually walk without falling - so off we went. And we soon came up on some wild life. All I had was my phone camera - so pardon the quality --

He really didn't pay that much attention to us - we were going to try and touch him but we chickened out. We continued our walk and soon found ourselves just a few feet from these two bears fighting.
We did not stick around to see who won. Grizzlies are very hungry when they wake up from their long winters nap. I don't think Matt and I will ever go walking in that area again - at least not until we need really good boot socks. A nice Saturday activity - when you have nothing else to do. :)

First - I'm OK

I'm OK but boy am I sore!!! I took a spill today at work. Was doing my walk around and found a piece of ice with my name on it and down I went. Now we park our buses really close to each other - mainly for space - we have none - so on the way down I struck my head on the bus next to mine. I ended up under the bus in allot of pain. When you hit your head all you hear is that loud crack. Well, I layed there holding my head and rocking back and forth until another driver saw me and came over. She helped me out from under the bus and then saw all the blood and went screaming to Darrell - my boss. Anyway everyone came out and said that they called 911 and that I was not to move anymore. You know the ground is very, very, very cold when there is ice and snow on it? Someone got me a coat to sit on and with allot of effort we got it under me. Well, two police cars, a fire truck and finally the paramedics came to look at the old woman on the ground. A paramedic got me to take away my hand from my head and said - "Mam - you are going to the hospital" Not very comforting but I already had a feeling. So now I get to wear a neck brace and be put on that board and be velcroed in. They did everything fast - so that they could get me out of the cold. It was a negative eight degrees this morn and right then it had warmed up to maybe twelve degrees. Once inside the ambulance they finished their velcro job and then started asking me questions. Ever try to talk with your head glued down and and neck brace holding your jaw shut? Fun times I tell you. My toes and fingers all moved and I could feel all their poking, so I really wasn't too worried. Now they have the heat on in the ambulance and I still have my coat, sweater, turtle next shirt and undergarments on - I'M HOT!!! I was disappointed because I didn't get the siren. Don't know about the lights. We get to the hospital - I get room 17 - my boss is there and we wait. We wait some more and some young thing comes in and takes my blood pressure, temp and all that stuff. She leaves and we wait. We wait and now I am lying on this back board with my head velcroed down and my cut is between me and the board. I am starting to hurt - bad - I gave them a 9 on their pain scale. They decide that I shouldn't wait anymore and off to get a cat scan for my neck - still in my coat and velcro. They tell me that it will take half an hour to get the results. I am in pain. I am trying to relax, pray and breath the pain away. Finally they come in and say all is well and unvelcro me. Yea!!!!! I can't believe how much pain went away when I got off that thing. No broken neck, no scull fracture - but boy is my neck stiff and shoulders sore. I get a local and two staples in my head and I am sent home.

Mom and Dad came and sat with me. I had Dad call Dave Asper and he came and gave me a priesthood blessing. My home and visiting teachers have all called. I am being taken care of.

I am really sorry that I don't have a picture of me on the back board but what can you do? All I have are the pictures of all the blood on my cloths and you can almost see one staple if you look hard.

The cut is from the one blood spot to the next. Very sore.

I am so glad I had my - get dirty, don't care- coat on. The staples come out next Wednesday and I am going to have the rest of the week off. Workman's comp should take care of the bills and I have strong medicine and my TV - so don't worry.

New Couch

Here it is - Got it inside seconds before it snowed!!!

Two recliners - very heavy couch !! The old is either at the dump or down stares in the pool room - depending on what piece you are talking about. This is my news for the week.