Dr. J and Pecos Ev

Hope to Be Back in the Saddle Again

2010-03-24T15:09:00.000-07:00

Well, this is quite a follow-up to my last blog which described our idyllic existence before lymphoma. I am glad that I was appreciative then of what a wonderful life we were living because now I really appreciate all the little details that have changed. Instead of freedom to travel and see my family, I am rather confined, but luckily, they have come to see me.

Here is my gratitude list:

I have gotten to see all my children and grandchildren (but I have sadly missed my 2 out of town sons in law).

Ev and I get to spend lots of quality time together snuggling and hanging out together

I still have my job - they have held my spot for me

I have awesome health insurance

I am so much improved that all my out of town helpers have been able to return home to their families and jobs

I can go on walks

The snow is melting (mostly)

We are going to have a new grandchild in May

The Gowdy's are awesome friends for many reasons

Jim lives close by

I actually get hungry

We are starting a new class today

Ev got me an awesome new computer so I can stay in touch and get things done

I am feeling good enough to consider sewing projects

Ev built me my own special recovery resort

Elvis is hanging in there even though he is 10 yrs old now

Russ doesn't mind giving me hugs

Ben and Em give me lots of snuggles and hugs

The Walkers live close by

Ev is having fun chasing cows (on horseback that is)

Ev is still teaching and coaching, though I do miss him on the days he's gone

I got my central line out!!!

I can shower like normal.

I will be able to swim before too long

I have a great oncologist

I have a great Stem cell doc

I was able to get my transplant done at Huntsman on the great BMT floor with wonderful staff

No new rashes

No new lymph nodes

I am married to my best friend

I have been able to go to church and Ev has been able to bless the sacrament for me.

My sisters and I have gotten closer

My daughters and I have gotten closer

My daughters have gotten closer to each other

Kristen and especially Cort have been busy working on my genealogy and we were able to go to the temple and do baptisms the day before I went into the hospital for my stem cell transplant

And many more.

Looking forward to:

Riding horses

Running

Running races with my husband and children

Going to all 3 meetings of church

Not wearing a mask

HAIR

Visiting all our kids/grandkids

Visiting all our family

Camping

Going to a horse clinic with Ev

Swimming

Getting in better shape

Going back to work

Hiking Timp

Horsebackriding/Hiking up to Lake Hardy

Going to Hawaii

Sewing projects

Watching Ev teach

Going to Ev's baseball games

Sitting in the hot tub

Next Family Vacation - what are your suggestions?

Love you all!! Thanks for all your help and support.

Back in the saddle again

2009-08-05T10:58:00.000-07:00

I know I have been so remiss in writing in my blog. And since I have really enjoyed reading your blogs I thought i should get back in the swing.

It's been busy and eventful year with lots of goings and comings. Visiting Florida, DC, Jackson hole and mountaintops. We've enjoyed seeing children and grandchildren and parents and siblings.

We are most appreciative of our ability to travel and play. Ev and I both have careers that are quite amenable to this. Ev teaching school part time (A day and B days) with every weekend a 3-day weekend and summers off (mostly except for baseball). Me working at the Instacare where I can request days that I don't want to work without taking vaca time. This month we got to go on a horseriding adventure up in the mountains, camping, riding hiking in beautiful country. Next mo we go to DC to visit Rae and run in a race with her.

We had Manions in town this weekend and it was so fun to come home to a house full of Manions playing games.

We love and miss all our distant family, especially grandchildren.

Adventures in Family Life

2008-04-30T10:58:00.000-07:00

Here are some of the latest edition photos. The portrait was actually from Christmas, but was so good, I wanted to include it.

The rest were from our recent family gathering in honor of Rachel's graduation. We did miss Reid and Russell both busy with their own adventures.

We loved having family all together and getting to play Grandma and Grandpa to our favorite grandchildren. The memories linger though all have now returned home. We look forward to the next family gathering.

We are missing everyone but are enjoying one another.

Last night we had another adventure/ misadventure. We decided to take Gus for a walk to get him used to the trails. We also took Elvis along. We were teaching Gus how to cross the water which he figued out. But once he got across he tried to go around us and go loose. We were worried about him running loose in the park (with Elvis chasing after), but luckily he just went home.

Back in the Saddle Again

2008-04-16T07:50:00.000-07:00

'Back in the saddle again.' Well, not exactly, but metaphorically. This is referring to the fact that I got ejected from the saddle on Gus, see past blog, 1 month ago. I did suffer a hairline pelvic fracture and have been on the path to recovery. Hopefully in the next couple of weeks I will be able to try a little slow riding again.

Today, I am walking sans crutches and even cane. I was walking to the mailbox to mail a letter to Russ @ Boot camp and almost forgot when I tried to run to the mailbox, because it is so cold (snow on the ground in Apr!). At any rate the best part is I can go for walks in our extended back yard, the worst part is I get sore from just walking. It's amazing how quickly one can get out of shape - esp in the over 50 crowd.

Now, let me get to what prompted me to write this blog in the first place - I read Beth's blog talking about really enjoying the phase of life that she is currently living. It is interesting I just recently wrote a letter to Russ and had a conversation with Rae about this very thing. Seems like a lot of country songs are hitting home to me lately. There is one called, 'You’re Gonna Miss This.' In it there are all these little scenarios in this man’s life from his teenage years, to having kids, to seeing his daughter first married, to her having kids of her own. At the end of each little vision into their lives, he says to himself or to his daughter – ‘You’re gonna miss this, you’re gonna want this back, you’re gonna wish these days hadn’t gone by so fast.’ I heard that song on my way home from work 2 nights in a row and sat in the car and balled as it brought back a flood of memories.

I remember when were first married and we were both starving students living in a basement aparment while going to BYU (just around the corner from where Beth & Reid lived and a few blocks from the current residence of Rae & Chris. We used to do everything together, ride bikes to school, grocery shop, do laundry, work in our garden, study, go camping. It really was a great phase. I didn't realize how much I would miss it when I graduated and only he went to school.

Then when we had our first little girl, I enjoyed getting to stay home with her, while she slept in the cradle Ev made in the little nook just outside her room, noting her every mile stone. We had adventures going for walks and hiding in cabinets. Kris loved to stand up in her Dad's hand - the only one of our kids who would do that. Ev would pull her in the swing he made to hang from the hot water pipes. Wherever we went, we would just take her along. Often we went to SLC to visit grandparents and show her off. And Ev was working and going to school but was still close by and we had many family adventures camping and even backpacking with the Williams family in the Uintas. i also had a surrogate mother/sister in our upstairs neighbor who taught me to sew, and listened to me when I had worries or excitement to share, and gave great advice. Little did I realize what a breezy life it was in our little abode, the 3 of us.

We continued to move and grow. Ev got his first job in North Carolina and his boss was John Blanchard, a BYU alumnus, and their family welcomed us in and I gained another surrogate mom. We made great friends there, one of which became a great mentor, friend, after whom we named our second daughter, Bethany. There I had to be independent as Ev often had business trips doing out of town audits, but when he came home we would go play, or travel to see any BYU games that were anywhere nearby, even Kentucky. We were also close enough for weekend trips to DC to visit family. When Ev got offered a position in the FADP (mgmt training) program with GTE and we moved to CT, (when I was 7 mos pregnant), that was a challenge. I really did miss the blessings of southern hospitality and close work/church friends and a nice apt in a nice neighborhood.

I will continue the musings in my next entry. I promise there won't be such a long space this time. But I do want to second the theme of Beth's blog: enjoy where you are at. Look for the little pleasures and blessings that come with your stage in life and your events of each day. It all goes by way too fast.

Right now, Ev and I are busy and often go different directions, but we do have a lot of time to spend together one on one. It is sweet and our friendship has continued to develop. It is great to support each other in our endeavors. I got to spend a day watching him teach - that was so remarkable. He has been so sweet helping me since my injury. It is a treasure. But we also often mention missing those busy days when our lives were filled to overflowing with kids activities and diaper changing. We are grateful to have those days to look back on and being able to catch a glimpse into it in the next generation. We LOVE being grandparents.

The other night we stopped by Kristen's and the kids had already gone to bed, Ev sneaked upstairs to just peak into their rooms and it was like looking into heaven. What a joy. We certainly can't complain.

The window of time when we had all our children close by was a great treasure. Now, we are coming to the close of another window of time, with Rachel and Chris leaving for new adventures. It has been great to have them close by, to see and share Sunday dinners, do laundry, have Rae come up to help me after my accident, to go to dinner with them as our Christmas present, take Sunday walks and hikes up the canyon, to get to see Rae defend her thesis and give presentations, meet Chris for dinner when Rachel was away and Sunday mornings on their couch. We are very much looking forward to our adventure in Peru with them.

GUS

2008-02-23T23:08:00.000-08:00

Colonel's Gold Under Saddle (Gus)

We have a new family member, Colonel's Gold Under Saddle (Gus). He turns two this month (Feb 2008) and has started training. Janet and I rode him last week. He is doing great.

We learned that Jack has Cushing's disease and hope he'll make it another summer and then Gus can take his place. Jack has been a good horse. It will be hard to put him down. But so far Jack is doing good. We have enjoyed the horses.

Gus is as nice as he is pretty. It will fun to see him out on the trails this summer. Janet really likes him.

This morning, in about a foot of snow, I put the round pen up on the back of mom's lot and ran Jill. She needs the work and enjoyed playing in the snow.

As for the Colonel part of Gus' name - it is not a throwback to Magruder High School (Colonels) but his mother is out of Colonel Freckles and Doc Bar. His dad is out of Mr. Gunsmoke. These are big name horses. The trainer wants to put Gus in performance training - cutting or reining. Perhaps Janet will yet make the Cowgirl Hall of Fame.

Fast times

2007-10-17T16:48:00.000-07:00

Ev and I just returned from our first rafting trip since we did it when our kids were young. This time was with a student group, an interesting experience with a bunch of free-spirited 'river people'. We camped and rafted down the Colorado River from before the confluence with the Green down through Cataract Canyon and ending up at Hite at the start of Lake Powell. It was cold and wet, but exciting and fun.

Bonding times

2007-09-23T20:04:00.000-07:00

I have been very lucky lately to have gotten to spend some 'bonding time' with my kids/grandkids. My last blogs show my trip to Austin. I have also gotten to go hiking with Rae in the mountains we love. That has always been one of our favorite activities - "I like to hike!" It is a great time to get away and talk about things that are close to our hearts: family, future plans and dreams. The outdoors and the exercise always leave us feeling renewed and invigorated.

I have also gotten to spend a lot of time with Kris, Ben and Em. We have gone on hikes as well out our back door with our little 'Hiker in Training' and our Glacier Jr Ranger. You'll have to ask Kris about our hike with Ben, he remembers having a great time; it was quite interesting. Em is a real go-getter with her head ahead of her feet at times and Ben keeps us entertained.

Au Revoir Austin, Contd

2007-09-23T19:55:00.000-07:00

It was hard to leave the little family behind, but so good to look forward to the next visit. I can't wait to see Lareine crawling great guns and really getting into mischief. Won't she have fun with her cousins.

Au Revoir Austin

2007-09-23T19:42:00.000-07:00

I wanted to include more pics from my trip so you can see what a great time we had and all we accomplished.

Lareine really captured my heart and it brought back so many memories of when I was in that position, a young mom having so much fun with each of my children as they went through those exciting times when each day brought some new discovery and they wanted nothing more than being with the ones they love (besides eating, sleeping, and playing). It was really fun to relive those days for just a little while. Thanks to Beth and Reid for letting me have such a precious little window into their lives.

Austin Bound

2007-09-23T14:06:00.000-07:00

I had a great trip to Austin to visit the new Texans. I got to play to my hearts content with Little Lily, my little sweetheart. We wrestled, played peekaboo, read stories, snuggled went on walks/runs and had a fantastic time. To say the least, we bonded.

I loved getting to visit with Beth and Reid and help them get just a little more settled in. We worked on projects: curtains, pillows, painting walls and even some alterations. We talked and laughed and talked and cried and had the best time. We ate well: Mr Gatti's pizza, Texas barbeque, cheesecake and a great roast beef, potatoes and carrots Sunday dinner. I got to go to Institute and Church with them and be there when Beth got her new calling. I got to see Lareine get so excited every time her Dad came home.

We went to a UT tailgate party all attired in burnt orange, gras a Beth and Reid. We went swimming at their apt pool, Lareine and I went twice and Beth got to come along once. I got Lareine to myself when I got to babysit and we had play time, swim time, bath time and bed time.

Glacier Pk Anniversary Trip Finale

2007-08-29T08:03:00.000-07:00

In the morning (Thurs) Larry & Gail took us to see their log cabin under construction on the west side of Driggs up in the trees, overlooking the Tetons on the east - magnificent. We can't wait to come back and see it further along. From there we headed home taking all the scenic routes and arriving home that night back to our empty nest. Though Russ did come home to stay that night and a couple more, till he actually moved into his apt by UVSC.

Glacier Pk Anniversary Trip Continued

2007-08-29T06:04:00.000-07:00

Continuing our trip. Monday we drove up the east side of Glacier and got our first view of Grizzley Bears, a mom and cub nibbling on a tree by the side of the road (pic 1). Before I could get our camera set up they were not as close so the pic is hard to see. It got pretty rainy and windy so we got in out of the storm at Many Glacier Lodge right on a beautiful lake with peaks surrounding it, really amazing. From there we hiked up to Apekuni Falls (pic 2). the fall cascading down into the river that was full of sparkling multicolored rocks. We went back through St Mary's and again ate at the little hole-in-the-wall restaurant, Jack's Cafe/World Famous Pies and this time we had to try the pies - we highly recommend them. We stayed @ the Rising Sun Motor Inn on the Going to the Sun Road and saw an amazing sunset (pic 3).

Tuesday was the big day that I had been looking forward to. We woke up to patches of clouds but the rain had subsided. However, going back across the Going to the Sun Road was another memorable experience. We got up @ 6:00 to get there early enough to catch our horsebackride so the tops of the mountains were still shrouded in misty clouds. So at times we could barely see in front of us; Ev said it actually kept him from seeing the drop-off so it wasn't as scary (plus we were on the inside on the way back for most of the ride). Due to the mist our drive took longer than expected, but we made it in time to get breakfast and catch our ride. The horses were different, shall we say; they were a cross between a quarterhorse and a Clydesdale. They were transportation and kept us fresh for the hike out in the morning. The trip up was a tour through the habitats in the park starting with Pacific Northwest rainforest with Cedars draped with moss and dense undergrowth, through pines and Aspen, to steep rocky ledges of rockslides, tundra, and mountain goats. Still several miles from our destination we got our first view of the Sperry Chalet (reachable only on foot or horesback) sitting on a ridge with a sheer drop off across the valley from us. (pic 4)

Upon arrival we investigated the area and local wildlife (pic 5) and relaxed 'on top of the world.' Our dinner there was sumptuous Thanksgiving dinner with all the trimmings prepared on propane stoves/ovens and served by propane lamp light.

The next morning was the start of another full day: up early for breakfast and the hike back out the 6.5 mi back to McDonald Lake Lodge and to our car to head home. We took a different route home past Flathead Lake and through Idaho to Driggs to meet TX neighbors Larry & Gail & Grant and stay overnight with them.

Travellogue to continue with next posting.

Empty Nesters for real

2007-08-26T20:01:00.000-07:00

We have really become 'empty-nesters' this week. Russ moved out into his own apartment in Orem and will be going to UVSC (now UVU) and working. It is a great thing, but marks the end of one era and the beginning of another. He bought his own car, Rachel and Chris' former vehicle, an old Honda Civic and is paying for his own living expenses. He will be seeing what independence and responsibility really means. Sunday family dinners take on new significance as we look forward to his return with the rest of our children/grandchildren.

As noted in my last post, as well as on Beth's and Rachel's blogs, it is also the end of another era with Beth and Reid's move to Austin, TX for grad school. These past few years we had the joy of a little window in time with all our children close by and have enjoyed the richness of regular family gatherings and associations. We have had the opportunity of being around to see the courtship and marriage of Beth and Rae, to be there for the birth of Ben, Emily, and Lareine, to help with moves and illnesses, to have the support in tough times, and to have the joy of seeing our children and grandchildren on a weekly basis. The memories and bonds provide a richness to our lives that is hard to describe. As such, this time has been sweet and has allowed us the opportunities to forge strengthened bonds of love and support that will make the new adventures both easier and harder. Easier because that love and support continues despite the distance and allows for different forms of expression. But harder because it's hard to give hugs over the internet (obviously that is the next needed development needed in cyberspace).

I do miss Beth and Reid and especially little Lareine Lilly, though obviously she has acquired other adoring fans, from early reports from Austin. I am grateful for emails, blogs and cell phones. I am especially grateful for airplanes, airline miles, a flexible work schedule, and a supportive husband, which means that I get to go to Austin next month to visit and help Beth with some projects to make their place, 'no place like home'.

Ev and I kicked off this time of being just the 2 of us again with a grand 30th wedding anniversary adventure to Glacier Natl Park on the Montana/Canadian border. It was a wonderful trip. We enjoyed each day:

We left Friday night after Chris' graduation gala (under tent). We got as far as Pocatello, Idaho and stayed at the Cottontree Inn - really the best accommodations of the trip, where we later found out Beth and Reid had gone for their honeymoon.

Saturday we continued our drive to Glacier enjoying the vistas, the company, and the time to relax and just be together. Glacier was a little disappointing at first as it was very smoky that first night and next day due to some fires in the surrounding area. We started our stay at Glacier Park Lodge in East Glacier , which is actually outside the park. It was built by the railroad to encourage rail travel and was rustic to say the least. We could hear the conversations of people in the next room like there were no walls and the bed left us a little sore in the morning. But it was an adventure, which was why we chose Glacier.

Sunday we found that the closest church was over an hour away so we continued our adventure and had our own meeting. We drove around the southern tip of the park to West Glacier and Lake McDonald Lodge and hiked to a lake and on the Trail to the Cedars. We were amazed to see that part of Glacier as more similar to the Pacific Northwest, very green with dense growth and more humid climate, compared to East Glacier which is much more arid (on opposite sides of the Rocky Mtns). It also has tremendous variety in the geology with older layers being pushed up in proximity to much younger layers. The rocks were beautiful, striking greens and reds and pinks and oranges with the riverbeds a sparkling aray of color. Then the most amazing and frightening part of the trip was a drive called the Going to the Sun Road. It was an old road parts of which were in disrepair and in the process of being fixed. It is the one road through the park that connects East and West Glacier over the Rocky Mountain divide. A large section is sheer cliffs up on one side and sheer clffs down on the other with a low rock wall that in some sections had fallen off. Knowing Ev, you can imagine the high anxiety as well as the amazement at the vistas. As we crossed over the top of the divide we got our first view of mountain goats and big horn sheep. We topped of the day with dinner at a great little hole in the wall place in St Mary's, Jim would have loved it, and stayed one more night at Glacier Park Lodge.

Travelogue will continue with next post.

This is my first post

2007-08-12T14:08:00.000-07:00

We were able to get all the family together for dinner while Ev's mom was in town! It was a bon voyage for Beth and Reid as they are heading out to Austin-- happy and sad times!