Grandma Joan's Blog

Saturday, April 25, 2009

Poor Ali.....

Ali is staying with us for a few days because she had to get her wisdom teeth out.

Not only do we get Ali, we get the boyfriend! He is spending the weekend with us as well.

Poor Ali....we call her "kissy cheeks".

Tuesday, April 21, 2009

Easter Fun

The kids had fun coloring Easter Eggs at Kristi's house.

Kristi, McKenna, Roger and Jessica

Wouldn't be a family gathering without Jenni and Kristopher messing around!

Greg colored his first Easter Egg! Apparently he always did the stickers or shrink wrap!

Jessica

Ali and Tyler

Sunday, March 1, 2009

Our oldest grandchild, Jenni is getting married on August 7, 2009 in the Salt Lake Temple. She is marrying Greg Hall from Snowflake, Arizona. They met at BYU Idaho. Greg has been to our house several times and we are thrilled for them!

Sunday, February 8, 2009

Just Kidney Stones

I have decided Dr.'s throw around words like "mass" and "tumor" a lot just to make you feel like what is really wrong isn't so bad!

After some pain, discomfort and other not fun to mention symptoms, mom took dad into the Dr. where they did an ultrasound. Tests indicated that there was no kidney infection but there was internal bleeding. Dad was put on antibiotics anyway and was told the Dr. would call them soon to get a CT scan. Kidney stones were our first thought, but the symptoms were not consistent and the technician didn't think that is what it was. The next day when they finally heard from the DR. they were told to get to the ER for the CT scan as that was the fastest way to get it done. It takes them all day to call them and now suddenly we are in a hurry to get it done at the ER??

At the ER they were told they were looking for a "mass" that was found when they did the ultrasound. There's that word! One nurse kept referring to it as a "tumor" or growth. Ugg.....we all were thinking the worst!

Kristi was at the ER with them giving the rest of us updates via text messages. Mom barely knows how to do voicemail so texting is out of the question! Text messages that contain those words are awful. Soon, my phone started ringing as other siblings and my daughters want to know what is going on with Papa! It seemed like forever for them to get the results back from the CT Scan and for the Dr. to come in and explain what was going on. We were all prepared for the C word due to the "mass" and "tumor" vocabulary.

Boy were we all relieved to hear it was just kidney stones! Can you believe we are happy about JUST kidney stones? Dad still isn't so happy, but at least that is treatable! Painful, but treatable!

So, almost as quickly as this was diagnosed, dad was in the surgical center having surgery to remove one very large stone that was totally blocking his right kidney. All went well and the dang thing is gone. Another is lurking high up by the kidney, but isn't causing any problems yet. Poor dad! We are all relieved that it wasn't the C word, but he didn't feel all that relieved! Roger gave him lots of sympathy as he had strong memories of his own kidney stones last summer!

It has been a crazy 48 hours, but all is well. Dad is recovering at home having missed a weekend trip with friends to St. George for some golf and sunshine. Oh well, the weather was yucky down there this weekend anyway!

Feel better dad! We love you! Aren't you glad I don't have pictures to post??

Tuesday, January 6, 2009

Our little Sydney

Today our 3 year old granddaughter Sydney, Jeff's youngest, underwent brain surgery to cauterize a part of her Cerebellum and to shave down part of her spine. She had been experiencing a lot of bad headaches and was diagnosed in November with Chiari (pronounced Kee-are-ee)Malformation I. It is a congenital brain/spine abnormality that is not easily diagnosed. There was not enough room in her skull/brain cavity and it was causing pressure and fluid to leak into her spinal column. So today they created more room to relieve the pressure. She did great! She was not very happy to go with the nurses in the wagon and went screaming, but it is all over and now she can start healing. We are so grateful for all the prayers and fasting on her behalf. It has been an emotional and scary experience for her parents and the rest of the family. Her big sister Nataly will take good care of her when she comes home from the hospital. Doctors are confident that she will fully recover and will have no lasting effects. We are so grateful! Love you Syd the Squid!