DOWN TO THE LAST 2 WEEKS

When people say that radiation isn't so bad must not be as old as grandpa. It has been a really rough last 4 weeks but we are down to the last 2 weeks and I must say he is glad. He really looks forward to the weekends when he doesn't have to go for a treatment.

He just gets feeling good and it is time to go for another treatment. It is the afterwards that is so bad. He sure is looking forward to the end and getting to start recovery again. Hopefully life will be good again.

Other than that life goes on and we are staying busier than we want to be with work at the lake.
Somedays we meet ourselves coming and going. Today was one of those days. I had to be at work at 4:30 a.m. Worked nine hours today and get to go back for more fun tomorrow. At least it will be slightly later. The weather here today makes it worth it. It is in the upper 80's and is to be 90 tomorrow. Then back to the below normal temps. Ah, the joys of living in CA.

Rembering Our Roots.......

The past couple of weeks I have been working on the questions that Carolyn sent regarding the history of our father that we are working on. It has been really a fun project reflecting on the many things I remember growing up. We were very fortunate to grow up in a loving home with parents who wanted the best for us. They may not have been huggy and kissy but I do not ever remember a time when they did not want the best for me.

In writing the answers to these questions it made me want to get out the story I have been keeping of my own life. There are a few gaps I need to fill in here and there but I was surprised at how much I had written over the years. I keep editing it and one day I will share it.

I hope our family remembers the good times and the love we shared as they grew up. I feel very blessed to have children who are good people and love their families

It's the Little Things

Its the little things in life that make you appreciate the big picture. When you have lived with someone for over 53 years and you see them slowly return to their normal self it is a great joy. Even though it is baby steps we are seeing a big improvement each day.

When you can take a day off and go off stitching for the day it makes you appreciate the little things. Dad didn't want me to go off driving to Ontario by myself but I figured if I could drive from Salt Lake home I could drive the hour and a half to Ontario.

When you look at pictures from long ago it makes you appreciate the values that your parents taught you. You look at the pictures and remember how they endured to the end. It's the little things in life that make you appreciate all that you have been given.

I DID IT!!!!

I wasn't sure I could make the drive from Salt Lake to CA with doing all the driving but we arrived safe and sound today. Dad did really well traveling but he sure was tired when we got home. He sat in his recliner and went sound asleep while I hauled everything in from the car. I had to go to the car wash as soon as I got everything unloaded as it was covered with salt and grime from all the snow we had in Salt Lake. It is nice to be back where it is a little warmer. Now all I have to do is put everything away, do laundry and take down all the Christmas ornaments. There never is a dull moment but it is nice to be home. It is nice to have the surgery behind us and now it will just take time to finish recovering.

HOME AGAIN SOON

We got a surprise today when we went to make an appointment with the doctor. He had told us he wanted to see us before we left for CA but then the doctor decided to take some time off so he had us come in today. He was very pleased with progress and said Grandpa could travel as soon as he was up to it. It may take a few more days but I look for us to be on the road at least by next Monday if not before. We are anxious for warmer weather and no snow. I think I have had my fill for some time.

Home Again

It has been a rough 8 days but dad is home from the hospital today. It is a great Christmas present to have him home. He is doing very well but it is a rough surgery. Every day he gets a little stronger. I think he was very relieved to get home as he said you get no rest in the hospital. Every few minutes they want to do something to you. We will stay in Utah until after New Years and then see how he feels about the drive home. We have to see the surgeon before we leave for home and hopefully by then he will be off the oxygen. Anyway, it will be a Merry Christmas to have him home.

Trip to Salt Lake

We got up early Sunday and headed for Salt Lake. We went through some beautiful country. The drive through Moab is always spectacular with its unique scenery. We got to Salt Lake in the early evening and we were all tired. We spent Monday just doing laundry and hanging out. On Tuesday I went stitching with Becky and worked on my rooster. He is coming along pretty good. On Wednesday we Wayne went to the doctor where he got some not so good news. They did a biopsy on Thursday to see what was causing the spot on his x-rays. We decided to head home on Friday so we could take care of some things here. When we got to Cedar City we got a call from Dr. Pearl that they did have the results and Wayne would have to have surgery as soon as possible. Dr. Pearl felt that Dr. Collins should do the surgery as he was the one who did the first surgery and knew the issues. We are waiting for a confirmation from Dr. Collins but it looks like surgery will be on Dec. 15th. It was a sad ending to such a fun trip but hopefully all will go well and we will have another good 8 years. We are not sure whether we will fly or drive back to Salt Lake but we will keep everyone posted