Sometimes Life is Just Plain Hard...

Sometimes life is just plain hard! Things you thought were going to be great turn out to be a hassle, or worse! Things you thought were going to bring you joy, bring disappointment and heartache. But, I do understand the purpose behind all of that. If life was good all the time, we would not recognize it as "good". It would just be "life." We wouldn't learn anything. Unfortunately, it is through the bad experiences in life that we learn to appreciate the good. It is through the trials in life that we come to appreciate the mundane, and the day to day. Normal is good!

On Father's Day when Kami announced to Steve and her Dad, (I already knew) that she was expecting number two, we were all excited and thought that good news would bring us even more joy when he/she was born. After spending a few days with us in Utah, I drove Kami and Malia home. I hung out for a day and drove back the next morning after spending a couple of hours with Aaron and Kelly. Kami was all excited about her ultrasound the following week. While at the doctor's office with Steve and Malia, they were told there was no heart beat. I was so sad....and sad for Kami.
After waiting a week to deliver, with no luck, they finally did a D and C. Life is hard!!

Jim went with the Priests to Lake Powell. He always has a good time whenever he spends time with young adults! I reminded him he is not 35 anymore as he left the house that morning at 4:30 AM.

Sure enough while trying to "prove something" on a waterski, he biffed it and wiped out pretty hard. Hard enogh to send him to the ememgency room when he got home. I was still in Idaho or I would have been with him and made them do a more thorough exam. The simple version of the story is, he broke a couple of ribs and is badly bruised. The longer version is, it has been almost two weeks and he is still in terrible pain. He hasn't had a good nights sleep since then and he isn't quite sure what to do. However, they did do a CT scan while he was in the emergency room and it was discovered he has spots on his liver. Never a good thing.

That along with the fact that he is having terrible pain in his left arm at night, leads me to believe that his cholestrol medication is doing more harm than good! He was told to get it checked out by a specialist right away.

So, he has a doctor's appointment with Dr. Karnam Monday afternoon. This time I will be there to get all the details that Jim allows them to miss because he does not ask a lot of questions. I pray it is nothing terribly serious; maybe his liver was bruised in the waterskiing wipeout!?! But, nevertheless...life is hard!

But, life is good too. We are all going to Hawaii together at the end of this month and I am looking forward to a wonderful time! I love my kids and my grandbabies so much. That is the good part of life; love and relationships! In that department I am truly blessed!

Going Back Again....

Fourteen years ago we left Oceanside California and it broke Jim's heart. He loved it there. He loved surfing the harbor, one of his very favorite places on earth. He has returned several times since then, but only for short visits. Then his company transferred him to Southern California again.

We made the decision not to sell our house in Alpine and move. With all the foreclosures around, we knew we would take a huge loss, but we needed to do something, so Jim decided to commute, three days a week.

We knew we needed some place for him to stay while he was there. Orange County is way too expensive. Hmmmmm, Northern San Diego County might work. Well what do you know! That is where Oceanside is!

So after a lot of searching we took advantage of the foreclosure market (we recognize it is at someone elses loss) and bought a small condo in Oceanside. We spent all last week getting it ready to move in. Note: People who are forced to leave a house do not leave it very clean!

After a few disasters like the washing machine flooding over, the gas line leaking, a plugged toilet and sink, it was finally OK. I say OK because there is still a lot to do.

I wish we could have furnished it with brand new furniture but most of it came from our house; stuff we really don't like anymore. But, someday I hope we will be able to fix it the way we would like. In the meantime, take a look at Jim's new digs...

Father's Day Gift

It's Father's Day. It started with breakfast in bed for the wonderful father of my children. A heart healthy breakfast of oatmeal with brown sugar and pecans, raspberries and blueberries, and an English muffin with strawberry jam,(No butter!)and orange juice.

I did good when I chose him to be the father of my children. I'm sure they appreciate it because they all love him so much.

We took a walk around the pond, which was very peaceful then got ready and went to church. It has been a very nice Sunday.

It was also a very special father's day as Kami revealed in her card to her dad, that she was going to make him a grandpa again! He (and I) couldn't be happier! We are so excited. And, today was also the day she told Steve he was going to be a Daddy again. Little Malia gave him the news when she posed for pictures holding signs that said, "Surprise! and I'm going to be a big sister!" The pictures were included in his and grandpa's cards. So cute!

Life doesn't get any better than having a husband you love, children who make you proud and being a grandparent! I am so blessed.

Dancing, Birthday, Haircut, and more Dancing!!

I just returned from a work related trip to Seattle last week, took two days to catch up, do laundry and check in at the office before I headed off to Idaho! It has been too long since I have seen my grandbaby, Malia and this was the perfect weekend to visit. You see, it was Kami's dance studio recital, which means it was Malia's dance recital, and grandma Nena couldn't miss that now, could she. Malia was fabulous and as far as I'm concerned, she stole the show. She was adorable in her red, white, and blue sailor outfit, complete with sailor hat, dancing to "On the Good Ship Lollipop." I helped backstage with all the little dancers and again, it was another rousing success for 'Tip Tap Toes Dance.'

The next day, May 22nd, was Kami's 22nd birthday. We all went to lunch with Aunt Nene (Angie) and I got to babysit that evening while Steve took Kami to the Melting Pot for dinner, then to Circ de Sole. (Is that how you spell it?) They had an awesome time and I am so glad.

Yesterday Kami and I spent seven, yes seven, hours at Angie's salon while she colored, and another gal, Jackie, cut my hair. I have not had my hair this short in a very long time, but it feels good to get a good haircut. I hope Jim likes it, but since he doesn't like me with short hair, I doubt he will.

Tonight, Malia and I met Angie and Brent at the Boise Burn game so we could see Kami dance with the 'Hotshots'. Of course she was fabulous, and without being prejudiced, she is by far, the best dancer on the team. We had a wonderful time watching the game and the dancers while Malia polished off a whole bag of popcorn, a pack of fruit snacks, a bunch of grapes and a sippy cup of milk. On the way home, grandma couldn't resist driving through Dairy Queen to get a Turtle Cluster Blizzard for herself and an icecream cone for Malia. (Who then required a bath when we got home!)

Tomorrow morning I drive back to Utah. I am excited to see Jim because I have seen so little of him the last few weeks, and to spend a quiet Memorial Day with him on Monday. We plan to visit my parents graves early in the morning, then go out to breakfast, so we can talk and catch up.

Life is good, I can't complain, but I am excited to get back into a routine again and get going to the gym, too. But, that is another story for another day.

I'm fi - fif - fiffff ...I just can't say it!

Tomorrow is my fi - fif - fifffty fifffth birthday. There, I said it! And it feels as awful as it sounds! I can hardly believe it. I don't feel that old. I may look it but I don't feel it. And I guess that's good.

I can honestly say, "What a ride!" I have had a wonderfu life, so far and I am so blessed, so it really would be ungrateful to say I didn't expect the next 55 to be just as wonderful!

Although I don't particularly like turning 55, (there,I said it again)I like my birthday. All the kids usually call and everyone at work is so nice. A group of friends are getting together for breakfast tomorrow morning,too. I am expecting a wonderful day.

Also, tomorrow Jim will be finding out if his company will require him to move to California or if they will let him commute. If he could commute, that would be awesome! Especially he they pay for the plane tickets and hotel. I'm keeping my fingers crossed.

Anyway, here is the birthday girl the night before she turns 55. (Wow! I think I am getting used to it!!) Happy, happy birthday to me!

Happy Birthday Sweetheart!

Makella Juliette turned one year old on February 13, 2008. This year has gone by so fast and we have loved every minute of being grandparents to such an adorable, sweet, precious, and of course, smart, granddaughter! She is a delight! Jon and Bonnie gave her a little birthday cake of her own to eat. Since her birthday really was the first time she has had sugar, she thought it was extra great! She got lots of new clothes from both sets of grandparents and lots of toys from her parents. Happy, happy birthday Makella! We sure do love you a lot!

The younger generation, with their cell phones, are chatting, texting and sending pictures at all hours of the night. My own kids, now that they are older and "their own bosses" spend half the night on the phone, and then sleep until late morning. I know this because the behavior continues when they come to visit.

But, for those of us who were not raised with a cell phone in hand, we still dread the "middle of the night phone call." Any phone call that awakens you from a deep sleep can only mean one thing....bad news!!

So, when my phone rang at 3:00 AM last Thursday morning, I caught it on the first ring with my heart racing. I was correct, it was bad news. Jim, who was in California where his new market is, was calling from the Huntington Beach Hospital. He was having chest pains and had driven himself to the hospital. The Dr. took over the conversation telling me how Jim was in the midst of having a heart attack and they were "911-ing" him over to Fountain Valley Hosital where they had a cath lab.

The phone went dead and I began running around. I ran down stairs to make plane reservations, then ran back up stairs to get my glasses because I couldn't see the computer screen. Everything said "unavailable" so I thought I better call instead. I went looking for the phone which never seems to be put back on the cradle. I couldn't seem to dial correctly and it took me several tries to get through. I made a reservation for a 6:00 AM flight, then cancelled it because I wouldn't be able to make it in time. I called back, made another reservation, then hurried to pack. I ran down stairs to get a suitcase but Jim had both small suitcases with him so I thougth I better borrow one from Cheryl, however, it was way too early to call.

To make a long story short I caught the 11:30 Southwest flight, got delayed in Las Vegas, coming and going because of Airforce One, was late into John Wayne Airport where we didn't have a gate. Finally, I made it off the plane where Marilyn Seebold picked me up and drove me to the hospital.

Jim had had surgery and they had put in a stint. They went throught the artery in his groin and up to his heart. By the time I was able to see him late that afternoon, he looked great and was feeling great, too!

How grateful I am that he listen to the 'still small voice" that told him to get himself to the hospital. The Dr. said it was a major heart attack and probably would have been fatal had he not already been in the emergency room when it happened.

Everyone has been so wonderful. Jim has received so many notes, phone calls and e-mails wishing him well. His company has been fabulous in insisting that he take time off and rest, which is something Jim is not used to doing. Friday we began the long drive home, as his Dr. said he could not fly for a couple of weeks. We stayed the night in Nevada then drove on home yesterday.

Kami, Steve and Malia drove in from Idaho Friday night and Aaron drove in on Saturday. They all love their Dad so much. Jim is feeling great and we are having a wonderful time together. There is about three feet of snow, (honestly!) outside and the boys have made snow runs, and snow caves for Malia.

I love my family so much and I am so very thankful we are still 'ALL' together.