February 8, 2011

So much has happened in the last month....

Today I was supposed to have surgery on my numb hand, but because of a bad case of bronchitis, we had to put it off for a week.  So hopefully, they will manage to get it done next Tuesday early in the morning, and by lunch time Dad will have me home and resting.  They are going to fix the carpal tunnel stuff, and also a pinched nerve in my elbow!  Hopefully, they don't have to move the elbow nerve, because that makes for a much longer recovery period.  All the lab work has been done, so hopefully, I passed everything this time, and there won't be any further delays.  I know my blood sugar was where it is supposed to be...I checked it in the car before I went in to see the vampire.

Cymbre hurt her knee again, however, it's a new injury, and they have had her out of dance for almost a month...we see the Doctor again this week, so we are really hoping that she can start to dance again.  Since it is the beginning of competition season and everything.

The girls went to the Jump Convention, and Cooper won 2 scholarships for a total of about $500.00.  She was pretty excited, and she also got to dance onstage with Mike Minery...a master tap teacher.  Cymbre went to observe classes since she couldn't dance, but she still learned several new things to take back to show Ms. Andee.

Cooper will be competing again this next weekend...she wants to try to go to the World Championships of Dance, so she needs to place in several competitions in order to be invited.  Wish her luck, and say your prayers.  Her solos are really great this year!

Dad has just spent the weekend in Utah blessing the new granddaughters....I sent the dresses, but didn't manage to make them this time because of this stupid numb hand!  As soon as I am recovered I am going to make one just to have in my Grandma box, so this doesn't happen again.

Cooper had her 16th birthday, and now I am hoping that Dad will get her a car sooner rather than later....her driving would be such a help.  They went for her license, but they have to go back and take a driving test even though the course Dad taught her says you don't.  Her test is scheduled for the 23rd right after school.  She is planning on passing the first time.  She had to drive for me last night because my arm was just hurting to much to hang on to the steering wheel.  Thank goodness, she can do it.

Cooper's birthday party is this Friday....that should be fun as she has invited around 30-40 people.  Talk about a house full of teenagers.  Hopefully, they won't play that screaming vikings game....that would really shake the house!  We ordered the sandwich tray from Costco and I guess we will make some cupcakes, chips and salsa, and M&M's,  that's usually what she wants.  She will have 4-5 games, and they will just hang out....thank goodness this will be before the surgery.

The girls missed a day at school because of an ice storm that came our way...it was supposed to bring snow, but we didn't get that lucky!  The girls would have loved it!  Dad stayed home from work, and the roads were terrible, but it started to melt by the middle of the afternoon.  Dance was cancelled for several days.

We got wonderful news the Aunt Anny is now cancer free...so all those prayers have been doing their jobs!  Uncle Glen was thrilled when he called the other day.

Dad went with the girls to do baptism at the temple again....seems like the moms always get left at home though.

Everyone seems to think I am crazy being happy about another teenage driver in the house, but I am....I don't have to live at the dance studio all the time, and she can take herself places.  And if I time it right, her and Dad will end up doing all the pumping of gas!  And she can run to the store, and I won't have to haul groceries!  And once she gets her car, Dad will be able to go to work early again, and that means he comes home early again.  That's always a benefit to me.

Guess that's about all for now....must get some curls in my hair before I go get Cooper...we have to go to the orthodontist today.

Love you.

Mom

Again!

January 11, 2011

We have started yet another year with a dance injury.  Cymbre has managed to do something new to her knee, and today after the doctors pushed and pushed on it, she is in quite a bit of pain.  She is hardly walking, and Dad is going to get the crutches out when he comes home.  It's something about a piece that goes around the kneecap but isn't supposed to go under the kneecap.  Hers is inflammed and under the kneecap.  How she manages to get so lucky to always have pain in her knee is beyond me.  She is a trooper though.

However, this has caused her to not be able to go to Tap University this weekend....so to appease her, Dad said he would send her to hug the grandbabies for the time in July while Cooper and I go to Tap Kids in Vermont if Cooper makes it.  Cymbre has a plane ticket, so she would come even if Cooper doesn't go to tap kids, which is highly unlikely.  Cymbre is already rubbing it in that she will play with the babies and Cooper won't.  So, you guys in Utah need to come up with some fun things that might have wheelchairs if needed, to do with Aunt Cymbre about the middle of July for several days.  I have to look up the dates, but Tap kids is for about 10 days.  If Dad sends her to Utah, he doesn't have to take all that time off work, and the babies will get to see their Aunt.  And Grandma is trying to figure out a way to be in two places at once!

The physical therapy for my hand seems to be doing nothing, but the new neck exercises have made it tingle more and then feel a bit better...who knows what they will say on Wednesday.  I know not doing anything is REALLY BORING, and it's killing me not be to able to sew!  Writing is hard, curling my hair impossible, crocheting is out of the question, cutting paper is a challenge...I can iron, but who wants to do that all day?    Russell, don't get any ideas!  Folding laundry makes it more numb, driving the car makes my whole arm tingle, but wearing the brace thing at night makes it somewhat possible to doze for a few minutes here and there.  There is something when you try to lay down that numb hands don't like.  Something about nerves connected to the spine.  Give me a break...just fix me!

I guess right now, I am just the perfect Grandma to sit and hold babies all day!  So where are the babies?  And I can line up cars if I hold my wrist just right, and don't let it bend!

I talked to the physical therapist, and she said that since I have had problems with my hands for years, crocheting Britain's blanket was just the last straw....I told her that wasn't a good option!  She said it would have happened even if I was just scrapbooking, sewing, or doing anything else that has a repetitive motion.  I have overused my wrist for 51 years it seems.  I guess I need to talk to someone about an extended warranty!  And where would you find an extra not used wrist if you need one?

I have enjoyed teaching my sunday school class, and they enjoy it when I bring what the call "Cooper Cookies".  They are just the break and bake chocolate chip cookies, but they all think that she makes them from scratch....we are just letting them think that.  She enjoys the reputation she has earned by taking cookies to people she thinks need them.  I teach the 16-18 year olds.  There are 16 of them.  And they are quickly learning that Sister Flanagan thinks they need their scriptures in class.  This week I made them journals for them to write their feelings about the Savior in this year, since that's what we are studying.  Even put a pen with them so they couldn't say they didn't have anything to write with.  Thanks goodness Dad and the girls helped me make them.  The other classes have people that want them too.

Very cold and windy here today...good day to stay home....and Cymbre is passing her time in the whirlpool tub!  The hot water makes her muscles relax and eases the pain a little.  Thank goodness for tylenol with codeine!

Well, must get busy...got to organize the competition costumes that are laying in the cradle, and I have just a few more pieces of ironing, and I have to curl my hair...oh joy!  The costumes are a mess because I took them off the coat tree to put up Christmas decorations.

Cymbre gave me her old Ipod, but I don't know how to work it, so she is going to give me lessons....I know....bad!  But I know how to work an old fashioned typewriter, and Cymbre has no clue!

Everyone get out there and do something for a stranger....they need to have a good day too!

Hug all those Grandbabies for Grandma and Grandpa and the Aunties.

Love you bunches.

Mom

Christmas Morning

December 29, 2010

Here's some of Christmas morning...then I will have to do more later...it's storming outside and we have to shut down the computer.

 Cymbre's new rhino...

 Cooper's new lucky dog...

 Cooper's new Ipod Touch.

 Cymbre's new Ipod touch.



 Snuggies from Mom.

Britni'a panda hat and gloves from her friend.

Christmas Preparations!

December 29, 2010

So here's some of the Christmas preparations that have been going on at our house.....

I ALWAYS have to buy a couple of new snowmen...no matter what the kids say!  Here's a couple that come home to live this year...

 For my snowman Christmas Tree...

 This one has a little tiny baby one in his pocket!

 Cooper and Kandace making chocolate chip cookies.

 I made these rolls for Christmas dinner.  Cooper buttered the tops.

More cookies!

Our New Baby Lucy..We are so lucky!

December 29, 2010

Here's our new baby Lucy.....born Dec. 26th.  Caleb and Holly now have a very cute Baby Jack, and now an adorable Baby Lucy!

I think Grandma needs to make another visit...

 Here's the new Dad and Lucy..

 Just a few minutes old.

Isn't she just so cute...she was 8 lbs 2 ounces and 20 inches.



 With Aunt Shyla....who better be giving her hugs from all the Aunties!

With her Mom, Holly

They are home from the hospital now, and we got to skype them yesterday....such fun!  Everyone is doing great!

My Grandbabies!

December 28, 2010

So I am a little slow getting some pictures of the grandbabies up, and now we have another one, Lucy, who was just born this week.  I have to capture some photos of her, so we will just do the other ones for now.

Everyone be jealous!  This Grandma had SO MUCH FUN playing, snuggling, and loving these babies when I went over for Shyla to have her baby.  My little toy bag and I came home so lonely, that I decided there should be some kind of law that Grandbabies have to live close enough to Grandma to play when Grandma wants to play!  Sounds good to me.

So here's my babies....

 This is Baby Jack...just turned two, and we are enjoying reading some of Eden's books.

 This is new Baby Britain...and she likes to snuggle Grandma!

We spent hours awake at night just playing and snuggling....we made Mommy and Daddy go to bed!

 This is Baby Eden trying to learn how to be a fishy..Grandma finally got her to do it just before I left.  Isn't she just the cutest?

 Eden and Jack playing with Grandma and Great Aunt Issy...we made the mommies and daddies leave so we could spoil them!

Baby Britain with her eyes open....she is SO Snuggly!

Oh My Gosh!

December 7, 2010

I have been home from snuggling the grandbabies for almost a week, and my progress on Christmas isn't going well.  Those house is mostly decorated, but still have to do the greenry on the stairs, there are some gifts wrapped, some still to get in the mail, dance costumes are a mess from competition, a CAM baking basket needs finishing in the kitchen, and the family Christmas letter isn't even started.

Dad is out of town, so for the next few days....it's just me and the girls.

The girls have started their duet...it will be so CUTE this year.....Andee is doing such a great job with it.  Cooper is still working with Ms. Traci on her jazz solo to get it perfect each Friday.

Last night Cooper bought Uncle Larry a really funny Christmas present....we have to get the other parts still.  Just one more thing on the otherwise endless list for Mom to do.

We are having some issues getting some of the things we wanted for the girls for Christmas, so I need to spend some time online tonight...maybe I will have more luck that way.

The new Grandbaby, Britain Lilly came on November 21.Six pounds 8.3 ounces, and 19 incles long.  She is so snuggly.  She likes to be awake all night, and Grandma enjoyed just holding her.

Eden and Grandma because buddies while I was there, and she followed me around all day.  I enjoyed chasing her while she tried so hard to run away from Grandma.  She just laughed and laughed.

Jack and Grandma had fun lining up ALL his cars.  They stretch clear across the front room and into the kitchen....then he walks down the line and messes them up.  He loves his trains.

I think there should be some kind of law that grandbabies have to live close enough to grandmas that they can play whenever Grandma wants to play.  Of course, I would never get anything done!

Baby Lucy will put in her appearance sometime soon.

We are so blessed as a family to have two new members.

All the pictures are still in the camera, so I will have to add that to my list too.  I'll put it right after refilling Dad's tiger tissue box on his desk!

When we unpacked the Christmas decorations, we discovered two snowman cookie jars with no heads.  I have the hats, but not the head.....there must be a snowman murderer who lives in my house.....NOT GOOD!

Got some snowflake material to make a new tablecloth for the dining room table.  One that will actually fit the table.  Don't you think it's about time since we have had this table since we came back from England about 16 years ago?

We are finally done with ear tubes...Cymbre's last one is finally out.  No more ear, nose and throat doctor!

Had to turn on the heater for a few minutes this morning...used the fireplace first, but then I was told in the rest of the house....I just hate that smell that is there when you first turn on the heater.  The girls have been putting their clothes in the dryer to warm them up before getting dressed....of course, they had to wait for the dryer guy to repair the element over the weekend, but we are back in business today.

Well, this is NOT GETTING anything done for Christmas, so I better go get busy.  Finding a lucky dog is on the list today.

Have a good day, and get out there and help someone.  There are plenty of Grandmas like me who need help loading cars!

Love you.

Mom