Sorry.

I know it's been a while, but life has been getting ahead of me. I've had lots and lots of physical therpy to do, a bunch of crazies (the Woodards) living in my house, and a father getting re-married. It's been lots of fun and hard work, too! But I'm up walking and exercising again, riding my new bike with the 'wonky" wheel, and I'm grateful for all of it!Soon I will have time to post some pictures and breathe. Hope you are all happy and well!

Remembering Grandma

Grandma and Jack - May 2008

Where did the time go? Today it is one year ago that my mother passed away. I just wanted to take a minute to remember my mom and found this picture of her doing something she loved. I know she would be proud of us for carrying on without her here, and it hasn't been easy at times, but we have helped each other along the way as a family. I, myself, am especially proud of my dad for putting on his running shoes and staying in the race. After my sister and I made a mad rush to the temple at 5:30 this morning, I decided to spend the rest of today feeling grateful for an eternal family and for the Savior who made it all possible.

Milestone

I can fit a shoe on my foot! First time in almost three months! WOW! Next step, learning to drive again!

Bored.

What to do... what to do... when you have six kids laying around, no money to spend, you can't drive anywhere, and you have one massive lemon tree (We call it a lemon weed.) ? You take lemons and you make lemonade!

Juicing... for three hours... my kitchen has never smelled so clean or been so sticky.

Sweet and sour.

D-man, the machine!

Cutting, cutting, cutting

and, cutting some more!

Straining!

Washing!



We also sold lemons in bags, lemon bars, sticky popcorn, and sugar free lemonade. The kids pulled in about $40. Not bad for a lemonade stand! It also kept them busy and exhausted for two days!

Christmas Morning

P. and Claire and the new doll "Annabeth" (Percy Jackson fans will recognize that one)



My new apron.

Griddle for Kyle.

Bakugan for Derek.

Fuzzy robe for Allie.

Sheer Delight.

We are a happy family... really!

Christmas Eve at the temple. It's really fun!
Allie wanted a picture with the baby Jesus. We took four of these. Not sure what she's doing, but everyone around us got a good laugh.

We ate at Sonic for Christmas Eve. PATHETIC.

Give me my cherry limeade!

It was a lovely night, except for the creepy missionary from Salt Lake who told us we were wimps for wearing coats. Whatever.

So sweet!

Even sweeter!

Allie went up and knoocked on the door of the temple. She wanted to go inside. Can you imagine Allie in the temple. Disaster. Maybe in twenty years or so...

I Know You're All Curious!

It's like that bad car accident and you just can't look away!

Big "D" Number 7

It's always several days of partying around Christmas for us. We also took the entire family to see the new Alvin and the Chipmunks movie... you know "The Squeak-quel". My kids think that's so funny! Anyway, it was a big day for us! This is the first time we have ever been to a movie as a family! Everyone sat, ate popcorn, and laughed at all the potty humor... you know, always have to have one fart, one burp, and at least one kick in the crotch. Lovely.

Arizona Autumn

We found one, little, measly pile of leaves this year. The landscapers beat us to it, I guess! Jack Jack

The kids... The Danas, The Woodards, and The Crismons

C. and Claire... sharing the love

S. and Allie ( They always hold hands when they are together)

No, we didn't have any fun at all!

Good News!

I am freeeee!!! I can start walking now! (I can't really walk... my foot won't support my weight, but if it could, I'd be walking!) I can be up on my crutches and my knee cart as much as I want now! I'm only using the wheelchair when I'm too tired to stand anymore and it's wonderful to be upright once again. My bum is the size of Texas and about as flat (that's pretty flat, by the way) from all the sitting. So, next week I'm off to physical therapy! By the way, for you detail oriented people, this time Kyle and I counted the hardware when we saw the x-rays. Here's the total count: 7 screws, 1 plate, 2 pins, and some wire. Also, I have a treatment plan set up for my bone issue that includes supplements, more PT (physical therapy), lots of weight lifting (Oh, darn! Those of you who know me will understand that one!), and one of those prescription bone medications. In 1-2 years, I should have my bones back to normal. Right around the corner, eh? So, I'll see ya'll at the gym! (As soon as I can walk again and when I can afford a membership!)

The "Danas of our Lives"... another entry...

Today, we stayed home from church. Yes, I know what you are thinking. Rebels. Kyle stood out on the freezing cold for five hours last night at a health screening event, then got to stay up all night doing breathing treatments for two kids, and, to top it off, Jack was up about five (for a snack and romp for an hour or so.) When the alarm went off at 7:00am, for Kyle to get ready for his meeting, he discovered that his back was quite sore and starting to freeze up. I decided that, we were done for the day... before it even started! I told Kyle to go back to bed and I let the kids sleep. No one moved 'til about nine... which is pretty darn miraculous for us. So, we decided to enjoy our day of rest. HA! We should have known better! Shortly after lunch, I notice water on the floor in my pantry... Kyle is walking down the hall and notices that the water in my pantry is actually coming out of the bathroom and quickly filling up the hallway. Yup. The toilet flooded our house. We got to spend the afternoon mopping (not easy in a wheelchair), trying to keep the kids out of the mess, ripping up carpet, padding, and tack strips, and attempting to disinfect after splashing around in raw sewage for several hours. Now, our home is a rental and it is going to foreclose sometime in the next few months... do you think our landlord will replace the carpet? Well, I have to admit... he carpet in this house was so nasty, I actually almost prefer the bare concrete! By the way, thanks to Kyle's brother, Wade and my dad, Frank, for coming out to the rescue! Hope Kyle can walk tomorrow! I can hardly move already!

Movie, anyone?

Yep, I've now seen it three times. How embarrassing! But, when you are confined to a wheelchair in your house, you are willing to go to great lengths to get out! If anyone wants to go see a movie, I come with handicap parking and great seating in the theater. I will even see New Moon again, if it means a couple of hours of fresh air! Give me a call!

We're back!

I know we haven't posted anything new for a couple of months. I (Diana) had a bit of an accident (see two posts down), and frankly, I just haven't felt up to doing much at all, blogging included. Now, that the crisis is passing and I am recovering, hopefully, we can get right back into our usual blogging routine. I'm sure that ya'll can't wait. :)

Random pictures from the last two months...

Claire pulls out another tooth all by herself!

Derek, at the splash pad... this is where I broke my ankle!

Allsie playing doctor and "helping" me with my recovery.

Jack is a total camera hog! Always smiling!

Sweet Allsie girl! Just being cute!

The night before surgery, Allie's birthday party. I was attempting to stay conscious long enough to get through the party. Sitting next to me is my dad and newly appointed taxi driver (since I can't drive now.)

Two Dana boys... Grandpa and Jack. No resemblance at all there! :)

The Dana kids at the splash pad on October break.

Megan and Claire shooting bottle rockets.

Claire's trying to sneak Jack to school, I guess. Good luck!

Allie's 5th Birthday

Neighbor, Jen, made Allie a tutu... so of course, Derek has to model it!

... and Jack has to fight over the gifts!

New jammies! Cool!

Sweet girl! Can't believe she's five years old!

The Reason for my Recent Bloggong Laziness

In the ER... ankle broken in two places. Oh, wait... the x-ray shoes that both of my ankles have been broken all summer! What we thought were sprains, were actually fractures! The right ankle didn't heal properly causing it to break all the way!

My other ankle is still healing from a fracture in June... so, I can't be hoping around on crutches too much! Luckily, my niece's husband, Matt, borrowed an electric wheelchair from his grandmother. What a life saver!

Bonus! I got to have surgery! One plate, half a dozen or so screws, and some wire! (We called this bandage "The Q-Tip"!

Yummy post op picture! The other side of my ankle looked about the same.

My "cast". I get to live in this boot and my wheelcahir for six weeks. Thanks to my ward, my friends and family and most of all my hubby, Kyle... for all the help and prayers and just general happy thoughts!