5 Days after the Drop!

 

 This is day five and some of the bruises are starting to rear their nasty head.  I won't post the ones that are on my front and back side but now there are 22 altogether.

 The bruises on my left hand go all the way through the middle of my hand. and you can kind of see where my wedding ring was.  There are no scratches on my ring that you can see with a naked eye, Which is amazing.  But I will be taking it in to be checked just to make sure it is ok.

 The bruises on my legs are about as big as my hand. Tthey will be there for a long time.  Yippee!!!

 It's going to take a long time before my right hand heals up. It looks like several layers were scraped off.  Of course it is also on the hand that has bad RA.  I also pulled something in my right hand that makes it hard to hold on to stuff.  The inside of my lip is still really black and blue, but it doesn't hurt to bad.

 The scraps and bruising on my face are healing up really well, and faster than expected (I've never been a fast healer).  It still hurts, but it's getting there.  Hopefully it will be all cleared up by the time Rob gets home from this work trip, but I doubt it.

I also have one on each ankle.... matching set..lolol

Down, Down, Down we go

It was a beautiful day and I was excited to take the girls for a ride and run a few errands.  I took care of the garden, closed up the house and was ready to head to the car.  I opened the gate at the top of the stairs, had both Kumori and Bella sit down at each side of me.  They know they can't come downstairs till I am at the car and call their names.  They are very good about it.  I started down one step and somehow I tripped ( not sure how).  I fell face first down all thirteen (13) steeps. My eyes were open the entire time I was going down.  It was terrifying to see and feel each stair as my body went over it.  I received a blessing last week, I know it was not only to help me get through what was happening at that time but also what was going to happen.  In the Blessing I was told "you are not alone and that many love and care for you", which was repeated several times.  It was those words that gave me comfort as I fell and found myself at the bottom of the stairs.  I laid there screaming, crying and scared with blood dripping from my face.  Then I heard a voice tell me you're ok, you need to get up, go back upstairs clean yourself up get ice on your face and call for help.  Now, get up..1..2..3.  I remember saying ok Becca help me up.  I got up, got upstairs, washed my face ( I didn't look at it) reset my finger that was out of joint, then sat on the edge of my bed and called someone for help, and then called my sweet Rob (who is in Hawai'i working).  Next thing I knew Donny Hunt showed up, then Katie Johnston who then called her husband, Ian, to come and help give me a Blessing before going to the hospital. I know that because of this Blessing I am better than I could have been. Donny checked me over to make sure I didn't have a concussion and to asses what was broken.  He then made sure to get my rings off before my hands swelled up so that they wouldn't be cut off.  I am so glad he did, my wedding ring is very important to me, especially since Rob isn't home right now.  Donny is like a brother who is always there when you need him.

 

Katie then took me to Urgent Care and they sent me to the E.R.  I am so grateful Katie was with me.  She has such a sweet Spirit and so loving.  She helped keep me calm when I was very scared.  Even though I really hurt we laughed and every now and then cried when they poked and prodded.  She brought great comfort and love as we waited to find out what was broken.  I talked a lot about Becca because I could feel her close.  I know she helped me get back up those stairs.  Surprisingly all I broke was my pinky finger, put several gashes in my face, and I am covered in bruises everywhere.  I am grateful that is all that happened.  It could have been so much worse. 

 

 I took these pictures on the second day after some of the bruises started to show up.

 Surprised my ring didn't really have any scratches on it. But I won't be wearing it for a while.

 It bruised my hand from one side all the way through to other side. 

 My right hand is also very bruised and sore.  The skin on the top was torn off and is very swollen.  To the point that grabbing things is very hard.

 It bruised my upper eyelid as well and my left ear was also really hurting.  My upper lip was also very bruised and swollen.  It's been 5 days and I still have a headache from my head bouncing around and hitting the concrete. 

 

I have a total of 19 bruises all from the size of a nickel to the size of my hand stretched out.  The first day wasn't to bad, but the next several have really hurt and have continued to do so.

I am very proud of my puppies who not only stayed upstairs after I fell, but also stayed out of the way while others were trying to help.  How I hate stairs!!!!

Chicken Treats



We buy dried chicken treats for our sweet puppies.  Then last month, February, most of the stores stopped caring them for all different reasons.  The problem is that these are our puppies favorite treats.  So I decided to make them myself.  I did them first in my dehydrator that is about 25 years old, but it died half way through the process.  Which  left me with a lot of chicken pieces half way cooked.  So the next best thing was to put them in the oven.

 I am so grateful I have such an awesome oven.  It is a Convection oven which made it even better, because of the fan inside on the back panel.  The fan pushes the air around inside which helps cook everything evenly and faster.  Which is really cool. 

 I then package some of them with our food saver to help keep them safe and the rest in a container that our puppies have learned all the sounds of it being touched.  Why? Because they know they are going to get a treat.

By making our own we know what is in the treat, which is just chicken and no extra preservatives or other icky stuff.  It takes some time to make them, but they are cheaper then any of the ones we have seen in the stores. That and they are their favorite treats.  Which makes me feel really great.  Rob calls them "Mommy Treats".  Now I just need a meat slicer so my hands don't hurt so much from cutting frozen chicken.

YaY Sunday HUGS!!!!

I have been very ill for the last 2 1/2 months and unable to go anywhere but to the Dr.'s and the hospital.  Needless to say it has been a tough road this time around.  I have been stuck in the house and I never really saw anyone, except for a couple Blessings and my Visiting Teacher came over for a few moments, but that was about it.

My sweet, wonderful Hubby took excellent care of me.  I don't know what I would do without him.  I was finally on the mend and he came home from work and said he felt tingly all over.  This is his sign of him getting sick, and he was definitely sick.  I was grateful I was finally able to take care of him.  He gets sick about once every two years.  I have to admit even though I was still kind of sick, it felt really good to take care of him.

I haven't been to Church of course the entire time I was sick.  So going today was a really big deal to me.  I really missed taking the Sacrament.  It is something that is so important to me and gives me a strength and comfort that gets me through the week.

I am someone who hates being late for anything, and today I barely made it.  When I got there I noticed the bench I have sat on for the last five years was full.  I actually thought it was kind of funny.  So I sat on the row behind it.  It was very empty.  Once I sat down Linda Desigano got up from where she was sitting and joined me.  It was really nice to not be sitting alone.  Since Rob was called to the Bishopric I have sat alone almost every Sunday.  To be honest it feels really lonely.  It would be different if I had kids and he was up there, but I don't and if I did maybe I would be wishing he was still not up there.  I am grateful that he is serving where he is needed and the Blessings we have received from it.

As the day went on I was overwhelmed by the hello's and how ya' doin's it felt good.  Bridget brought over her cute little one and asked if aunt Katie' wanted to take him for the rest of Church.  I so wanted to, but my back was hurting so bad that I didn't dare.  Yet I wanted to hold him and get to know him. After that I got called into the Bishops office for a little chat.  Kim Nisson waited for me to go to Relief Society together.  It was so nice to sit with her and joke a little bit back and forth.  I've missed that friendship since she was always so busy.  It was nice to see her a little more relaxed.  Jenn Hurdsman came up and gave me a hug, and that's a big deal.  She always makes me smile and there is a comfort that I get when I talk with her.  I think it's because were both farm girls and understand that about each other.  We also have something else in common that is close to our hearts and that is we both have a sibling that was called Home way to early in life.  She lost a brother and I lost my sister Becca.  It makes me appreciate her friendship even more. 

After Church was over and everyone was gathering their things and their children I waited to talk with my sweetheart before I headed home.  While I was waiting I got the BEST hugs of the day.  Since I am no longer in Primary I get very little interaction with the children. and I miss it a lot.  As I was standing their two of my favorite kids came up and gave me the best gift of all, GREAT BIG HUGS!!  they came from J.R. and Sydney.  They melted my heart. 

Needless to say I was exhausted when I got home.  I didn't have to worry about dinner because Rob took care of that before I even got up this morning.  He got up early and prepared the roast and even cleaned up the kitchen when he was done.  Then when he got home he wouldn't let me do anything.  He said I needed to rest before I wore my self out to much.  He was right I was tired.  So today was a great Sunday.

Long Time - Tough Time

It's been over a year since I really put anything into my blog.  I've started plenty of times and just haven't been able to deal with what I have needed to write about.  I have lost a lot of people and family in my life, each one a treasure.  Other than my sister Becca and my Granma Kline, Meicko was my best friend.  She saved my life on many occasions and helped me to see the world in many different ways.  I know most people will never understand that.  But I really miss her very much.  I'm still not ready to talk about her and what happened.  But I needed to start writing so that I can eventually write down mine and her story.  A lot has happened since the Lord welcomed her home and I need to write it all down.  Especially our time with our family and our future.

Sunday Dinner Groups

We haven't had a group of friends over in a long time.  It wasn't because we didn't want to , but because I physically have not been able to.  The last couple of years have really taken a toll on my body's health and has created many limitations that we, both Rob and I, are trying to adjust to.

A couple of weeks ago I decided no matter what I was going to have some friends over for dinner.  I wasn't sure if my body was going to let me or not, but my heart and mind was all for it.  What use to take me a day or two to prepare my home for guests took a little over a week.  I felt so sorry for my sweet husband having to do most of the work, yet he wouldn't let me over due.  He IS so wonderful.

The house wasn't perfect and not completely like I would have wanted it, but it felt wonderful to come home from Church and not have to do anything before people came over.

We had four families come over and it was wonderful to have them here.

Last years start Home

A lot of things happened last year that I didn't take the opportunity to write about. So I am hoping to get all written down over the next couple of weeks.

Last year at the end of April I went back to Arkansas to help my mother because she was going through surgeries. I was very grateful for the opportunity to one of my mom and my dad, but as more excited that I got to the home during a beautiful time of the year. I was also very excited right unto us from time with family and friends.

Preparing for the trip was very exciting because I was also planning on going camping in my favorite spot back home at Bull Shoals on the white river.

But I also knew that it was going to be a lot of work to help my parents during my mother's recovery. I was also hoping, or wishing, that my husband would find a way to go with me also. But he had a lot of work and was possibly going to have to travel for work while I was gone. I think the only thing that scared me the most about this trip was leaving Meicko. She was turning 13 this year and she is already showing many signs of old age and the last thing I wanted was for her to pass away with me.

The night before I was going to leave rob and I were the Church taking care of a few things. I went down to the Relief Society room where the sisters were going through a closet. While they were going through it they found a lot of clothing. As we were talking I told them I was going to Joplin on my way home. They gave me several boxes of clothing and other items that could be used by the tornado victims. Needless to say my car was very full for my trip home but I am very grateful that I had the opportunity to deliver the items. The lord always puts us where we need to be even when we don't understand the reasons why.

Movie, Dinner, and Close friends

Rob and I truly love and appreciate our friends Heather and Robert Faulkner.  We have fun teasing and doing things together with them. 

Rob brags about his grape slushes, from Sonic all the time, mostly because grape is his favorite flavor.  One day he was telling Robert and Heather about it and became almost speechless when he heard them say they had never tried it before.  I have to admit it was amusing to me to watch him gasp when they said it.  So of course this meant we had to introduce Rob's famous grape slushies to them, and what better way then dinner a movie and GRAPE slushes!

We went over to their house for dinner, because Heather is an awesome cook (dinner was so good we all had thirds), and watched the movie "Captain America" on their new large flat screen TV (that we were envious about) while drinking our slushes.

While talking to Heather and Robert several weeks later they let us know about their new addiction to the slushes at Sonic.  Welcome to my world!!  Just don't tell Rob you prefer a different flavor.

Garrett Philipe Senecal

Today I got to hold sweet little Garrett Senecal for the first time.  He was born a few days before Valentines Day to our dear friends Isabelle and Seth.  He is a sweet little bundle that has stolen my heart.  Isabelle called a few weeks ago and asked if Rob would participate in Garrett's Baby Blessing.  We were both very honored that they thought of Rob and how much that would mean to us.  It is an honor to be apart of such a beautiful part of someones life. 

Isabelle's parents where also there.  They flew all the way from France to spend this time with them for a couple of weeks.  I was also excited to meet them.  Both Rob and I looked at Isabelle and her mother and they look so much alike.

All I really remember of Sacrament meeting with them was the Blessing.  I had no idea what the speakers spoke about.  Not because they were quiet, but because I held Garrett for most of the meeting and that was where all my attention went.  I almost had him asleep before the meeting was over and it was time for Rob and I to head back to our ward where he was going to be singing.

This was a good way to start the day.

Spiritually Lifted, Physically Scared

Sunday morning started out pretty normal.  Rob and I got up, had breakfast, then got ready for our Church meetings.  Rob went to Ward Council and gave me a call to remind me that we forget to change our clocks back.  So in other words we were both late to where we needed to be.  I stopped what I was doing and finished getting ready to visit the Spring Valley Ward for their Ward Conference.  Before Rob left I started to have some pains in my chest and didn't feel right.  I was a little concerned, but with everything that has happened in the past year I shoved those feeling aside and proceeded to get ready.  As I walked down the hall I became very short of breath and the pain in my chest intensified.  So I stopped and said a prayer asking my Heavenly Father to help me do the things I needed to today.  Needless to say I was very scared.  Several times I thought I have never had a heart attack, maybe this is one.  Then once again I shoved the thought aside and talked out loud to the Lord and continued on.  The pain would subside for a few moments, so I then continued to get ready.  While the entire time my mind focused on "I can't die yet I have to much to do", followed by "the Lord will take care of it".  Am I really ready to die?, Am I ok with being received by my Heavenly Father, and those that are most precious to me beyond the Veil?  My answer is yes.  Do I have unfinished business here on the Earth? In my eyes, yes.  But how about in the Lords? Apparently that would be a yes also. Why? Because I am here writing about it. 

I once again felt a sharp pain as I got into my car followed with pressure on my chest.  I again begged the Lord to let me finish the day.  As I drove to the Church my pain was eased a little.  I called Rob and told him how scared I was and that I didn't know what I was going to do yet.  We prayed together and that gave me great comfort.  I decided I didn't want anyone to know what was going on at the time, so I smiled and did what I needed to. 

The lesson in R.S. was on Joseph Smith, Jun. and all the struggles he faced and the struggles that we personally face in our lives.  How he was close to the Lord and knew what he needed to do, and that we can have that connection as well.  I have always known this since I was a youth, but today it meant even more.

After the Spring Valley Ward let out I headed to my Ward so I could sit with my sweetheart.  While I sat there the pain started to intensify again as I listened to Sister Dudley talk about Journals.  That is part of the reason I am writing this down now.

We got home, and me still be stubborn, had dinner and sat together to watch a movie.  I told Rob, who of course was very concerned, that I wanted to wait a little longer to see if I really need to go in to the ER.  I HATE hospitals.  I have spent a great deal of my life in them for one surgery or another.  I knew that by going in I would be stuck and prodded because I have terrible veins and they have gotten worse over the last couple years.  Yet, the pain would not go away.  I received a Blessing and decided I would wait before going to the Hospital just to see if it would let up any.

So at 8pm Rob took me to the ER.  I was the only patient there at the time so I got right in.  This also means that there were plenty of people that wanted to help.  Sometimes that is not a good thing.  They did EKG and tried to put in an I.V. (which I already knew was going to be a problem).  I have a rule, you get one try at sticking me and that is it.  Before I knew it that rule no longer applied.  I was stuck 10 times before a nurse asked if she could stick me in the neck.  I was in so much pain and had not yet received any relief and it was getting worse so I gave here the go ahead.  They lowered my head close to the floor and she stuck me.  All this happened before I saw the Dr. 

The Dr came, looked at me, and said he didn't like the looks of the I.V. and that he didn't trust it would work with the contrast I was going to be given for the C.T. to make sure I didn't have any P.E.'s.  This meant another stick.  The Nurse tried to flush the I.V. in my neck and it blew, and that really hurt.  So the Dr. decided to do an Ultrasound I.V. stick.  The first time it blew and then he did it in the other arm and it worked great.  After all of this I finally got something for pain. 

Through out the entire process my sweet loving husband sat by my side holding my hand and tried his best to give me comfort.  I could not ask for a better man in my life.  While we waited for the results he read to me from the Ensign and then from a science fiction book that he was reading the series from.

All of my tests came back good and that it was not my heart or P.E.'s.  It is possible that it is from the Rheumatoid Arthritis, Connective Tissue Disorder, or Fibromyalgia, or possibly all three.  I was very grateful that it was not my heart or P.E.'s and that I was able to go home and sleep in my own bed.

This really hurt.