Saturday, July 20, 2013

Today I was gone for over six hours.  I had to go into town this morning to make a deposit for Francisco Lozoya and to check to see if the rest of James's oxycodon came in.  Well they still don't have the oxycodon and told me to come back on Monday.  This is getting to be a little ridiculous.  I have a feeling I am not going to be getting the rest of this prescription.  I also went to Safeway for coleslaw, Walgreen's for peppermint tea, and Walmart for all of my other shopping needs.

When I got home I put things away and handed James his lunch, two toastados from Taco Bell.  I even had time for a short nap before heading off to my next adventure.

At 3:05 I left for the church to pick up girls and take them to the Show Low Stake Pioneer Day Celebration where we are running a horseshoe throwing booth.  The boys were suppose to do a calf roping booth but none of them showed up.  Trenda, Shelly, Maddie, Blaine and Diane Curtis and myself were the ones who showed up.  Oh yes, and Bishop Hall and his family came by later to help.  Here are some pictures.

An awesome poster made by Jordyn Applegate.

The girls ran the booth.

We had the nicest looking booth at the celebration!

Trenda texting, Maddie eating candy and Shelly trying to look like a pioneer.

President Williams came by our both and I took the opportunity to thank him for the beautiful flower arrangement he sent James while he was in the hospital.  It was such a thoughtful thing to do.

 

I had promised Trenda I would get her home after our hour was up so she could get ready to go to a dance.  The Curtis's stayed for the dinner and said it was delicious.  The had pulled pork sandwiches, cowboy beans, coleslaw, fry bread, and ice cream sandwiches for dessert.  Maybe next year when James can go with me.  I did take the girls to Dairy Queen on the way home and bought them all a treat.

When I get home James needs my attention so I will have to prepare for the lesson I am giving tomorrow early in the morning.

Storm clouds are coming.

Friday, July 19, 2013

Last Sunday a new Young Women's Presidency was called.  Diana Curtis was called as the president.  I am the first counselor and Kaeli Nicoll is the second, and Analee Hunsaker is the secretary.  Denice Hall is the Laurel advisor and Randa Covert the Beehive advisor.  Still waiting for a Mia Maid advisor but it is so great to almost be fully staffed!!  Kaeli and I have been "running the show" since Natalie Soderquist left in April.  We had our first presidency meeting this morning at our house.  I made cream cheese croissants for the first time.  They were delicious!  I got the recipe off Facebook.

After our presidency meeting I spent most of the rest of the day with James.  It rained.

The grass is starting to turn green.

  Rain on Mt. Vernon

Love the sky!

For lunch I fixed tilapia, broccoli, and a salad.  We took a nap.  We read, and we watched The Walton's and a movie starring Vince Vaughn called "A Cool Dry Place."  All in all, it was a wonderful day!

Thursday, July 18, 2013

James got a call early this morning from Lloyd.  The hopper, which is the buggy the guys use to carry concrete to the pour when they can't get a truck to it, broke down this morning.  James was very stressed but there wasn't much he could do, except worry and that doesn't help anything.

I love Helaman 5.  I call it my Wow! chapter.  This chapter begins by Helaman the 2nd teaching his sons the gospel.  Helaman 5:12 reads:  "And now, my sons, remember, remember that it is upon the rock of our Redeemer, who is Christ, the Son of God, that ye must build your foundation; that when the devil shall send forth his mighty winds, yea, his shafts in the whirlwind, yea, when all his hail and his mighty storm shall beat upon you, it shall have no power over you to drag you down to the gulf of misery and endless wo, because of the rock upon which ye are built, which is a sure foundation, a foundation whereon if men build the cannot fall."  Helaman was a good example of a parent teaching the gospel to his children.  There are other examples in the Book of Mormon such as Alma the younger, and Lehi.  I am also reminded of the story of  the children who were young at the time of King Benjamin's address and their parents did not teach them the gospel and how they rebelled.  (Mosiah 26).

Today I cleaned the kitchen, dining room, family and lilving rooms, and the entry and hall.  I like to work a while and then take a break.  During my breaks I watched Master Chef, The Walton's, and Rizzoli & Isles.  James got up and watched a little TV with me. 

Stacy met Lloyd's wife Tracy today and they really hit it off.  Stacy and Paul were watching a cooking show and Tracy told them that's what she likes to watch.  Stacy was also impressed that Tracy and her mom ran a cupcake bakery in Long Island.  Tracy also worked on the Desert Highland job today helping Lloyd. 

Stacy got a part time job, a few hours on Saturday, with Dr. Patel in Chandler.  Hope it works out for her.

Sheri had some news too.  Wolf Mechanical, the company who installed the airconditioner that they have had nothing but problems with, admitted that the air flow problem was their fault.  Hopefully now the will do something about it. 

Wednesday, July 17, 2013

James sat out on the deck for a couple of hours today working and enjoying the nice weather.  Helping him these past few weeks has made me realize how much I love and appreciate him and how much I depend on him.  I am sorry to say I was gone for much of the day today.

My errands this morning went something like this:  Picked up horseshoes from the Dewitt's for tonight's mutual.  It was raining when I got there and their gate was closed.  Wendy came down and handed them through the gate to me.  Next I went to the Vernon post office.  James's box of shots that Trina sent arrived.  Went to KMart to get the rest of James's oxycodon but they still didn't have it and told me to come back on Friday.  Stopped at Safeway and got a coleslaw salad kit and some red pears.  Went to Walgreens to get my prescriptions and some more surgical pads for James's leg.  At Walmart I picked up an air mattress to put in the back of the car for our next trip to the valley. Couldn't resist buying some of these cupcakes.  (Notice the name.)

 Stopped at Wendy's and got some lunch for James, a bowl of chili.  I went home and unpacked everything and then loaded up the garbage to take it to the Vernon refuse transfer station.  (That's just a fancy name for the dump.) 

I took a break and watched "The Next Foodnetwork Star" and then went out to wash my car before Mutual.  Fixed James taquitos and coleslaw for dinner.  He didn't care for the taquitos but he loved the coleslaw. 

For Mutual we made posters for Saturday's horseshoe throwing booth we are in charge of at the Stake Pioneer Day celebration.  Those attending: Leaders: Diana Curtis, Randa Covert and myself.  Young women: LeeAnn Hunsaker, Kilee Hunsaker, Jordyn Applegate, Shelly Applegate, Maddy Carroll, Trenda Wilhelm, Hope Lootans, and Coty Iannoli. 

Came home and watched a Hallmark movie with James called "Kiss at Pine Lake." 

The crew at Desert Highlands poured 50 yds of concrete today.

Tuesday, July 16, 2013

I love the rain and the cool weather.  Today it was in the upper 60's, lower 70's. 

Good news for James.  I am able to restore most of his contacts from the backup on the computer.  He was quite happy. 

Here is how my daily routine goes in caring for James:
In the morning he starts out with a Slimfast shake, a quick acting oxycodon, Mirolax, a shot in the stomach to thin his blood.  An hour or so later he has his blood pressure meds and vitamin and a slow acting oxycodon.  He rests in bed until lunch time.  I fix his lunch then we watch an episode or two of The Walton's.  Later in the evening we have dinner and his meds.  Another shot in the stomach and I change his bandage on his leg.  He is still in alot of pain! 

Today Darrel picked up the rest of the blood thinner shots in Scottsdale and Trina overnighted them to me.  The total cost was over $300.  I don't tell James because it was just stress him out. 

I spent several hours today catching up checkbooks and paying bills.  I also did a little cleaning.  I am experimenting with what to use on the wood floors.  Today I tried WD-40 and it actually looks pretty good.  I have lots of housework to do before our Young Women's presidency meeting on Friday morning. 

This evening James and I watch an episode of the Walton's and a Hallmark movies. 

The guys poured 72 yards of concrete today at Desert Highlands.  Quite an improvement over yesterday!

Monday, July 15, 2013

Happy Birthday Laura!

Hope you had fun in Idaho for the 4th of July!

Gail reported to James that they didn't have a good day at work.  He said the workmanship was poor quality.  They poured 18 yds.  James asked if he added a retardant and he said no, he had forgotten.  Maybe that will help for tomorrow and the rest of the week.

I took Addy, Rowan, and Ruby on a Razr ride to Chocolate Lake and the Village this morning before they left for home.  We actually took two rides and Trina came with us on the second one. 

 When we were finished with our Razr ride the kids wanted to look for bunnies.  Rowan went in the house to get some carrots.  While we were out in the meadow behind our house he was running along and two bunnies jumped up and were running along beside him but he didn't even see them.  It was the funniest thing.  I wish I had taken a picture!  Also, there was a bunny under a tree and Ruby said to him: "Don't worry little bunny, I won't hurt you."  I love these kids!  Darrel came out and announced that it was time to go home with a promise that they would be back in August.  We said our goodbyes and the kids were reluctant to go.

Hunting for Bunnies.

Just as Darrel's family was leaving I got a call from Brother Applegate asking me if I would speak in Church on July 28th.  The topic would be: "Blessings of Keeping the Sabbath Day Holy."  I said I would be glad to.

Rain!  I went into town to try and fill James's oxycodon, quick acting.  I got the extended release when we were in Scottsdale.  The girl at CVS says she doesn't have any available and suggests that I try KMart, which I do.  KMart has some!  They fill 91 out of 120 and it only costs me $27.00.  The pharmacist tells me to come back on Wednesday for the rest.  

My next stop is the Verizon store to get James a phone.  He does not qualify for an upgrade and he didn't have insurance.  My Xoom tablet does qualify for an upgrade so I drive home to get it.  It takes me over an hour.  The traffice is very slow.  I am at the Verizon store another hour getting James's new phone all set up.  It costs around $200 but the guy tells me that without an upgrade it would have cost $600.  This time I make sure he has insurance!  

James is happy to have a phone but is still sad about losing all of his contacts.  I told him I would check to see if his phone had been backed up on the computer tomorrow.  I am too tired today.

Tonight's sunset:

Sunday, July 14, 2013

I receive most of my inspiration in the early hours of the morning.  This morning I woke up a 4am.  and my thoughts were on the amazing mothers I have known and who were an example to me.  These are some of the women who raised their children the same time I did who had a profound influence on me:  First and foremost, Suzanne Kempton who had 13 children.  Sue was patient, and loving and taught her children the gospel by precept and example.  Ruth Gale and Betty Bogle are next on my list.  Ruth had seven children and Betty ten.  Both were amazingly patient.  Betty is probably the sweetest, kindest, least judgmental person I have ever known.  Cathy Arnett and Dianne Heyman also made my top 5 list.  Cathy had 10 children and Dianne 4.  Dianne is now serving as a mission president's wife in Argentina with her husband Ray. 

James took a shower this morning and got ready to go home.  He put on the ASU shirt I got him for Father's Day and a pair of khaki pants.  That shirt is his favorite and I must say he does look good in it. 

While we were waiting I went down to the cafeteria grill and got a patty melt and some chicken strips to share with James for lunch.  I am afraid I ate the most.  Both were so delicious!

We waited until about 2:30pm for the hospital to discharge James.  Our first stop was the CVS pharmacy on Indian School Rd.  We leave the four prescriptions the hospital sent us home with and come back an hour later.  Out of the four we get one.  There was no quick acting oxycodone.  This drug has been so abused according to Darrel that it is very had to get.  We did not get the muscle relaxer because it was too expensive.  They only had a three day supply of the blood thinner shots I am suppose to give him.  We leave town with James laying in the bed I made for him in the back.  He complained it was awfully hard so next time I will put in an air mattress.

When we arrive at the cabin Darrel and Trina and their kids are there.  They came up to spend the weekend.  Trina had a nice dinner ready for us.  Ruby was so concerned about James and wanted to help him.

James and "Nurse Ruby"

Eating dinner

When it came to changing James's bandage and giving him his blood thinner shot Ruby wanted nothing to do with those things.  Thank goodness Trina was there to help me. 

It was nice to be able to sleep in our own bed.  There is no place like home!