College Move In

Me, Meg, & Bree

I suppose I should just admit it. Summer is all but gone. It usually doesn't make me melancholy at all to see the temperatures dip and the air get crisper, because soon follows the fall leaves and pumpkins. But for some reason this year I just don't want to let summer go! With reluctance, I decided that I should make peace with the changing seasons and embrace all the things that come with Fall. Helping make the transition easy was getting my two sisters all settled in at BYU. My mom, two sisters and I made the final carload down to campus today. Megan, my youngest sister, is a freshman at BYU. Cute! She scored and got a seriously nice place. Doesn't even smell funky, and all her roommates seem mostly normal thus far. Meg - I still can't believe you're a in college! You will do wonderful!

All set up at Megan's dorm. I suspect she will be at that desk a LOT.

My other sister, Breeann, is back for more this year as well, so she was headed back to the same apartment she had last year. I suppose that my family is a Cougar family. My mom attended, and now my two sisters. Will little bro Dain follow suit? That would make Dad and I the odd ones out. He graduating from San Diego State, and me with only a little UVSC, or UVU, under my belt. I must admit that I am a bit jealous, having never actually lived in student housing and attended school full time. I am so glad that my sisters get to experience the full student life. I think you really miss out working and only going to school part time.

The Sisters, at Bree's place

In our haste to get out of Provo before the game was over, we decided to head back up towards home for dinner. I decided that we should start a new tradition and hit up some seriously good sushi each time someone is off to school. It did not disappoint. But then again, I am pretty easy to please in the eating department. Have fun at school you two!

Megan, eating in enjoyment.

Logan Day Trip

Brad and his little brother, Derek. Not very little though is he?

On Saturday Brad and I piled in the car with some snacks and a book and headed up to Logan for Aggies Family Fun Day. Brad little bro plays football for Utah State as the Right Tackle on the Offensive Line. Each year before the season starts they do a scrimmage for a couple hours and invite family to come and watch. But anyone can come and watch, not just the players' families. It ended up just being me, Brad, and his parents, and it was a good time. Macy's Grocery sponsors, so there is also free popcorn, face painting, and those big blow-up castles for the kids to jump in. Afterwards all the players sit at a couple long tables to sign autographs. This part was especially adorable. All these cute little kids with face paint and posters lined up so get the autographs of all the players. They all looked so awe struck and would just smile and smile when they players would talk to them. Cute! We just wandered around down by the players and every few minutes we'd hear a player say, "You gotta be Hoke's brother. How look just like him," or ,"You gotta be Hoke's brother, you sound just like him." Too bad Brad didn't ever get to play. But what he didn't get to play he more than makes up for in watching, which at our house, is a sport all its own.

Me and Brad in the stands. His parents are one seat over from us.

The Aggies, doing something.

We hardly ever make it up to any games because of Brad's back, so when we (mainly me) heard that the scrimmage was only two hours we jumped on the chance go up. Brad is a football CRAZY MAN, and I tend to get a little bored somewhere after the third hour, so this was a good day. The drive through the canyon was beautiful, and all in all a good drive other than that pesky road work that seems to never end in Davis County. Afterwards we got a quick bite to eat with everyone and then headed back down to our house. We got home two very tired people, but it was a fun day.

The Aggies again, doing something else, again.

Interviews. Fun.

Oops

So I suppose it is a good idea to 'proof read' your posts before you click the little publish button and all the world can see. I just realized, reading the end of my previous entry, that I wrote, "I was all worth it. It's official." What I meant to write was, "It was all worth it. It's official." I'm really not that self absorbed!!!! Brad is laughing so hard right now, but I don't think it's so funny! I am feeling really embarrassed, and hopefully no one has written me off as totally conceded. Oh well, Brad says that technically I am worth it (I better be since we paid for it). Whatever. I am just going to stop now.

Back to Normal

Ready for the longest blog entry I have every written? Well if you want to know how I spend the last week, then here you go:

Side note to any who don't know. I have never been able to breathe very well through my nose. I have even had this surgery done once before about 7 years ago, and it did not work at all. I have since been referred to the best doctor in the state since I am a 'revision case' and have a 'very difficult nose'. Second surgery was necessary to fix my nose, fix what the other guy did, and just make me happier.

Tuesday, Day 1 - I am terrified. We wake up at the crack of dawn and head up the the surgical center in West Valley. On the way up, the morning sun was so beautiful coming over the mountains that it helped calm me down a lot. But that only lasted me so long. We got there, filled out paper work, and then I went back to start my IV and get in that lovely gown. So the nurse takes me back to this area where lots of people are waiting in their own little curtained off rooms,and she puts the IV in my hand so badly that I can feel it in my liver. I never have a problem with IV's and veins and the whole blood thing. I have done it so many times. For me it's just, with arm extended, "here ya go, do what you gotta do," and all goes smoothly. Well not today. So after she puts the dang thing in already, she's got whatever fluid it is pumping like mad into me. She realizes this and says she better turn that down. After the turning down of the 'stuff,' she leaves. I am all alone in my gown and cap, in the curtain room, listening to the nurses talking about how stressed out they are, and all of a sudden I am feeling very, very light headed. Next thing I remember is I am slumped over in my chair, and some other nurse is screaming my name asking if I am taking a nap or if I have passed out. !!!! Yep, just thought I'd get a nap in while I sit and wait. Whatever! I passed out! She then proceeds to tell Brad, who followed her in, that this sometimes happens as well as a seizure. Perfect thing to say to a nervous patient and her clearly rattled husband. Anyhoo. . . after they got me some blankets and the numbness in my hands went away which apparently comes when one passes out, I met with my doctor, anestheseologist, and O.R. nurse who were all totally awesome and made up for whatever the nurses did to me!

And off I went. I am still terrified. If you don't know what Anesthesia Awareness is, DO NOT find out. After four and a half hours I was waking up, and even though I kept saying I was in pain, it was just pretty much like they just wanted me to get in that wheelchair, get dressed, and get outta there. At home, after the pain pills kicked in, I was better. Mom and Dad came to see me which made me feel better. And the recovery begins.

Brad actually took a picture of me like this, so what the heck, this is how it was.

Wednesday, Day 2 - I love visitors! Each and every person that came to see me, you rock!! It made me feel so much better and distracted me from my big purple face. Can't really eat yet. Can't really move yet. My eyes are a very darkened shade of something, and at 3:40 in the afternoon I have to actually get in the car and ride up to the doctor's office so he can take the packing out of my nose. He said,"this will be like taking a big thorn out of a lion's claw,". . . . or something like that. I wish you could see Brad's face while this happened. I won't try to describe it for you. But I could breathe!

People brought me flowers! Wasn't expecting that. Thank you! They really did help.

Thursday, Day 3 - Today I ate. All of a sudden, about midday, I am dying for fried chicken. Fried chicken! Anyone who knows me knows I don't even like fried chicken! So Brad and I took a drive to the closest KFC and ordered it right up. It took me about a half an hour to eat one piece, about one bite every ten minutes, but I swear this is when I started to feel a lot better. Fried chicken, who knew? Ailments: my hand hurts like #!&$! from said IV, my chest is terrible achy, I seem to have a bronchial sounding cough that rivals any I've ever had, my throat is dry and raw and dry and raw, my neck and back hurt, I am sensitive to sound and light, but my nose isn't too shabby. Did I mention my throat is dry and raw?!

Me and Brad. The best nurse on earth (he wants me to say the sexiest too).

Friday, Day 4 - Things that I can do are take extremely slow strolls to the mailbox, take extremely slow strolls to the bathroom, sometimes venture upstairs, and sort of just stare at whatever is on TV. I am sorry to any neighbors who had to see me meandering around all day at a snails pace because I couldn't bear to sit in the house anymore. I have now figured out how to wash my hair without getting my nose wet and still people come to visit and cheer me up so much.



Weekend - I feel pretty good. By Saturday night I feel like I've rounded the bend and am pretty comfortable. Still just tired and sleeping a lot, but very very glad that the past days are over with. Swelling and bruising are down, but my eyes are still wonderful shades of purple. This recovery was much harder than last time.

I attempted Sacrament Meeting. Screaming kids are LOUD.

Wednesday, Day 8 - The cast comes off, the stitches out, and the true miracle of breathing through one's nose begins. I love my doctor, Dr Mobley! And that, is the last surgery I am EVER having. And what would I do without my husband? He did it all. Made all kinds of ice packs (some that have never even been invented yet), he bought me this big white fluffy blanket and matching body pillow for me to snuggle with while I got better, he read my extremely girly book aloud to me, he fixed me endless amounts of macaroni and cheese, and had just had to deal with me when I wasn't the happiest of people. He is the best.

The new nose. Can you tell??

It was all worth it. It's official. I can breathe like a normal person (still can't believe all you lucky people got to breathe like this all the time).

Recovery Update

Tonight I am actually feeling like a living person again so I thought I'd celebrate and give a little update here. Brad has been a wonderful nurse, getting me anything I need, and we have such wonderful friends and family that have also been so helpful. I am so glad that people have come to visit me. It is such a good distraction! I get awfully stir crazy sometimes sitting around feeling miserable. But I think the worse is over. Well I can't type for very long as the computer is starting make my eyes hurt but here's picture of me in all my glory. I have been in this spot for three days straight and am sure will be here for more.

The fun of surgery

Yesterday Natalie had surgery on her troubled nose. She has had breathing issues most of her life and has had a previous surgery on it. We went to the surgical center at a quarter to six a.m. and got checked in and ready to go on a long day of fun. The surgery took four and half hours and with waking up and the drive.. well it was a long day. I had the fun of sitting in the waiting room with a lot of kids and very little quiet for over five hours. Headphones are wonderful things. We got home and had some tough times but once the pain went down it got a little better. Our long night of ice packs, pills and not being comfortable is now finally over, and a recovery is coming. Thanks for all the support, phone calls and flowers from everyone. She will be up and going soon.

Warm Zucchini Bread

I made some zucchini bread this afternoon and it turned out pretty yummy. Thought I'd share it with here in case anyone has some zucchini growing and would like a good bread recipe. Or like me, you just love hot fresh bread.

Zucchini Bread

3 C. Flour, sifted 1 C. Brown Sugar, packed
1 T. Cinnamon 1 C. Oil
1 t. Salt 1 T. Vanilla
1 t. Baking Soda 2 C. Zucchini, grated
1/4 t. Baking Powder 1/2 C. nuts, chopped (optional)
3 Eggs, beaten
1 C. Sugar

Preheat oven to 350. In medium bowl, sift together flour, cinnamon, salt, baking soda, and baking powder. Set aside. In large bowl, beat eggs, sugar, brown sugar, oil, and vanilla. Stir in sifted ingredients. Blend in grated zucchini and nuts. Pour into 2 greased and lightly floured loaf pans. Bake for 50-60 minutes.

Ready, Set. . . Read!

While Brad and I were doing our sometime Saturday trio of Cafe Rio, Walmart, Costco, we were pleasantly surprised to see there were still several copies of Breaking Dawn around so we picked one up. Yes, we are on the bandwagon with the whole Stephenie Meyer thing and we quite enjoy it. It started as only me, but one day when for some reason I had Brad read some aloud to me and what do you know. . . he wouldn't give it back! Even though he laughed out loud each time Edward was described as some Grecian statue (which is a lot) he really loved it too. Only problem with this new one is that Brad and I are both halfway through other books at the moment, he The Thirteenth Reality and me Little Lady, Big Apple, so we don't know who's going to read it first. It looks like it will be a race to see who finishes their current book first. In all the excitement of everything Edward, I thought I'd add the trailer to the upcoming movie (!!!!) Twilight that comes out in December. I'm sure most of you have already seen this trailer, and there's no shortage of different ones on You Tube, but here it is anyway. My whole department at work has already decided that that will be our Christmas party this year, attending the movie. And we are trying to force read it to anyone that hasn't yet because everyone knows that the book is always better than the movie.