Flowers For Me!

I am usually not much of a flower girl, but these flower made my day, not to mention cry. I am not sure why they made me so emotional, but I was just so grateful to receive them. Thanks Mom and Dad and Sherri and family.

Tomorrow, I am having part of my meniscus removed. I met with the doctor yesterday and according to the MRI, I have a piece of my meniscus that tore almost off and he goes to remove that part that tore off. The way it tore, he was unable to repair it. Good news, I should be up and around right away and back to work on Monday. I used crutches for the first week and half, but geez they wore me out, so I just been limping around.

The pre surgery center called today and asked me all the mandated preop questions. It made me think, I consider myself young and healthy and will continue to consider myself that. However, tomorrow will be the 9th time I have been given versed to go to sleep. When I started recalling all the minor things I have had done, that's what it adds up to be. In my opinion, that is 9 times too many and here's to avoiding versed and any other personal healthy problems for the next few decades.

Hanging out

It's been less than a month since Eric and I were in LA and at times it seems like a life time ago. In case you haven't read my facebook status, I am at home hanging out waiting for my knee to heal. On Feb.12, I woke up looking forward to the weekend ahead. That changed rather quickly. Eric was still limping around from a calf injury earlier in the week, he was on crutches for a few days. Cale wasn't feeling very well, which usually means he is going to throw up soon and that he did. I was helping him in the bathroom on my knees, a little crooked, well when I went to up, Pop, Ouch, Oh my goodness, my knee really HURTS BAD. We went to urgent care and the doctor was fairly confident it was a torn meniscus. By Wed., my knee wasn't any better, I couldn't get it to straighten out or bear any weight on it. so we went to an ortho doctor. The doctor gave me a shot of cortisone, unfortunately didn't help. Had an MRI that afternoon and tomorrow I will find out the results and what we will do next. Even thought the doctor had told me not to bear any weight on that knee this past week, which I have done "pretty good" with, but I have to keep testing it out. It does feel better than last week, so that is good news and now I just have to wait until tomorrow. Saturdays in January and February have been filled with basketball. Cale's season was cut a little short with his broken arm, but for the times he did go, he did enjoy it and could see much improvement from last year.

Eric was the coach of Zach's team. There last game is this Saturday. It is through the Ankeny Park and Rec so they don't keep score, but improvement is seen.

I have really appreciated the way all three boys have helped out around the house. It is frustrating to me to be on crutches and unable to get the things done that I like to get done. Another lesson in patience for me.

LA Vacation 2011

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Cale broke his arm

Next time I promise I won't talk back

(Doesn't he kind of look like a kid on a Stop Domestic Abuse Poster)

Cale had taken a tumble last Friday night, but seemed to be healing up. He kept saying his nose and his wrist were feeling better. But, he would still favor his left hand/arm. Yesterday during his basketball game- he was still able to shoot, but he would prefer to dribble with his left hand.

I got tired of wondering if there was something wrong with his arm and decided today to take him to the Urgent Care. He broke his forearm in two places, thankfully he was healing straight and it just needed to be set in a cast. Not a great mom feeling letting your kid walk around for 9 days with a broken arm.

It is weird that it is almost the same age that Zach broke his arm. I am actually somewhat surprised we haven't had more broken bones and stitches as much as those two run, jump and rough house.

LA

In the Hollywood Hills looking over LA.

We peddled our way from Manhatten Beach to Santa Monica Pierre.

Bob Barker coming out to say hi to us and we were suppose to be included in some news special, but Eric and I got cut- boo!

We had never seen live surfers and we really loved watching them. I would have really liked to talk to some of them and ask things like- you know this looks like fun, but it's the middle of the day during a work week, what do you do to support this passion? There were so many and how do you decide where to go, what wave to go on, etc. Very fascinating to me.

The set from Friends, of course they won't let you sit or touch the couch, but cool to see anyway.

Eric and I had a get away just the two of last week. We went to Los Angeles, California. Neither of us have been to California and Allegiant Airline flies directly there out of Des Moines. We got a reasonable flight and I was able to find an Embassy Suite Hotel with a great rate and that's how it started. While we were there we spent two days around the beach/ocean. The first day we walked a couple of miles along the beach and took in the 70 degree temps, the beautiful homes and watched in awe of the surfers. The other day we spent by the ocean, we rented a tandem bike and biked at least 25 miles to the Santa Monica Pierre. I loved that! Another day, we took a tour with Starline Tour company, they came and picked us up and took us to Hollywood. We toured Warner Brothers Studio and a two hour drive where the stars live and hang out. The Warner Bros tour was very interesting- highlights included sitting on the set of Two and Half Men, saw the old set of Friends. The Star tour was also fun, even though you could get see a lot of the houses because they are tucked behind trees and fences. The highlight was that Bob Barker came out of his house and talked with our tour group. I didn't think I would be very much affected if I saw someone famous, but I got getty over seeing Bob Barker, I am a little embarrassed, goodness sake what would I have done if it was actually someone. Well, that about sums it up. I loved this vacation and did have me wonder that if our families weren't all here, would we want to live some other place. I will have to admit I LOVED the weather and there isn't much I like about winter, but well I don't have any reasons other than this is where we belong and it won't be long winter will be done.

Christmas 2010

Christmas 2010 has come and gone, another year passed. I do love Christmas time- the shopping, decorating, the excitement, getting together with family,Christmas cards, new stuff, reflecting, Christmas Eve Church service and all that good stuff. But, if I am completely honest, I think I love this day the best. The Christmas stuff is all put away, the house is back to normal and we get to stay home all day and watching the boys play with their new stuff. Christmas morning

Christmas Eve before church

Zach and Cale, I think Cale was kind of getting sick of me taking pictures of him :)

Eric 's sister Lynne and her husband, Brian and kids, Owen and Shelby

Cousins on dad's side

Eric's parents: Marvin and Dianne with thier grandkids

We celebrated Christmas with my family the week before.
My mom and dad celebrating Christmas

Cousins on mom's side

My sister Sheila and her kids Adam and Sara. Her husband Roger was sick and Alex had to work.

Alexis and Sara- cousins

Aunt Sherri and Uncle Jay

Weekend Events

Eric and I ready to go to our neighbor's house for an Ugly Sweater Party. However, I didn't read the invitation as close as I should have. "Ugly Christmas Sweater party" Well, I felt like a dork, but we still had fun. I jokingly said we were Jewish, so we couldn't wear Christmas sweaters. Note to self, read invitations more careful.

The boys helping me do a little Christmas baking.

Our first real snow, so the boys were very anxious to go outside and play. I tried to convince them that it was too cold and they wouldn't want to be out long. Well, they proved me wrong and lasted 40 minutes.

Eric was just as excited to go outside with them- Not really, but he was a trooper!

Mmmmm Hot chocolate to warm back up.

The reason why I can't have a fancy house. Cale and Eric playing hockey in the hallway with plastic golf clubs.