The Big Cleaning Day

Well today was a day I've been waiting for, for a while. I've been wanting to clean my carpets for quite some time. Finding a day when Duane and I can both be here and have a full day to devote to moving furniture and really cleaning along with finding a day that works for the carpet company was a trick. Today was finally the day. We started early this morning with moving furniture, (Duane did most of that), and cleaning baseboards and edges (my job). Baseboards are a lot of work when you have a whole house to do and you can't kneel, so needless to say, my back is breaking tonight. I had every intention of taking pictures of the men cleaning, but I got so busy I totally spaced it while they were here so all I can blog are the nice clean rooms after they are finished.
We put furniture everywhere to clear the floors as much as possible. Tables and a rocking chair in the kitchen?

Here are some shots of the different rooms with nice clean carpet. How nice!
We finished with Duane raking the carpet to make it look nice and uniform. The carpet cleaners already did it but Duane wanted to keep it looking perfect so he raked it some more. What a guy! Thanks Duane for all you do. You are always so much help. I want you to know I appreciate you! Oh, it feels so good to have clean carpets and a cleaner house. Since I didn't accomplish any major cleaning this summer due to my knee surgery, it feels great to finally have something major accomplished.

School Has Begun - Part 2

I have 21 students but one girl will not join us for a couple more weeks. My students are very bright, sweet and want to follow the rules. The first day is always long due to the fact that there is so much talking that the teacher has to do to set up the rules and procedures. We did a few fun things but we'll need to continue tomorrow with learning more rules and procedures and testing for placements. However, the children were very patient and willing to do what was necessary. This will be a great year!

School Has Begun! - Part 1

August 24, 2009 school began. The official school year kicked off today. We had a great day and everyone seemed to be happy and adjusted. I have a great class with lots of sweet children. Every year there seems to be another great bunch of kids for me to mold and teach. The sun was shining, everyone had on their new school clothes, and they brought their newly purchased school supplies.
Some arrived with a smile but some were a little nervous. By the end of the day I think they were all more comfortable and assured that their teacher will be nice to them this year. Teachers also are a little nervous wondering what kind of group they'll be living with for the next nine months. I too, was relieved to know that this is another great group. As you can see by the pictures I do have a sweet bunch of children.

A Fun Dinner Party

Last Saturday Duane and I attended our monthly Bishopric dinner. The members of the Bishopric and also the executive secretary and the ward clerk meet together once a month at one of the houses and have a delicious dinner together. This month it was at Jeff and Shawna Adam's house. They bar-be-qued steak and served it with baked potatoes, salad, cornbread and then had chocolate cake for dessert. It was delicious but the company was even better. Duane is the ward clerk so we get to attend each month. He really enjoys his association with these good men. We laugh and share lots of stories together. It was so enjoyable we stayed for 3 hours. Thanks to Jeff and Shawna for hosting us and making the evening the best.

Next month we get to have our turn so stay tuned for news about next months dinner.

Freaking Fun - Part 5

Garry and Heidi were planning on leaving Thursday, but Heidi found out that her great aunt had died and that her grandparents from Idaho were coming down to the funeral. They wanted to have the chance to visit her Dixon grandparents so they decided to stay another day. They were planning on going to Salt Lake later that day but we had the morning to do more things. We visited the Bean Museum on campus. The boys really enjoyed seeing all the animals. I think Grandma Great did also.
In the middle of the museum, they had the largest elephant that I've ever seen in my life. I was amazed at the size of the beast.
Gavin loved to touch everything he could.
At noon, Duane mom and I had planned on meeting with some current and also retired BYU employees for lunch. This is a monthly event, but we rarely get to join in. We went to McGraths seafood restaurant in Orem. It was a nice event. After lunch Garry and Heidi and family went to Salt Lake to visit Heidi's grandparents and then Duane, mom and I went to the temple. Provo Temple is such a nice temple. I love to go there. When the Bartle family returned from Salt Lake they had plenty to do to get ready to leave the next morning. Heidi did laundry, packing, and all the things that needed to be done to get ready to make the long trip home. Friday arrived and everyone was up and hustling to leave. The Bartle van was filled to capacity with children, stroller, crib, TV and lots of suitcases and other stuff. I know that they were very glad to pull into their driveway 11 hours later. Duane, mom and I also were also glad to get back home, but we won't forget the fun times we had together. Thanks everyone for making the effort to be together and making fun memories.

Freakin Fun - Part 4

On Wednesday, Duane took the day off work and we had a very enjoyable day. We started the day by going to the Oquirrh Mountain Temple. Unfortunately we only got to see the outside because the open house was over, but it was a beautiful temple.
Next we went to the Kennecott Copper Mine. That is some big hole in the ground. We all enjoyed seeing the mine and the HUGE trucks going up and down the roads in the mine. As you can see, the tires alone made us look pretty small. The boys were pretty interested in the big trucks. Lexi was pretty happy too.
Later that afternoon, we decided to visit the BYU Creamery. We all had our fill of their delicious flavors. That evening, Garry had arranged with some of his childhood buddies to come to the park and bring their families and visit. Shannon Ligman, and Michelle Teeter, those are their maiden names, were there, but unfortunately other friends had commitments so they weren't able to come but Rhett Dean was able to visit us at home earlier. It was a nice chance to see him again. It was so good to see them. It has been years since we've seen each other. For me, it was really different, since I remember them as young girls, and now they are moms.

We wanted to have a little photo shoot with the grandkids so we took the opportunity. What cute kids!

Freakin Fun - Part 3

I wanted to show the evidence of the boys enjoying the s'mores. Zach is obviously enjoying himself.












Tyler is too, except he's showing he's a little sticky.














To end the day and after the kids were asleep, Aunt Heidi set up the beauty shop, and she colored Heidi and my hair. After we had our color on and were processing, Garry walked in. Aunt Heidi convinced Garry to try a little color himself. It took a little convincing, but not long after, he said he would try it. Aunt Heidi was delighted to do the deed.

Here we are, the 3 foil heads. In the end we all looked much better. Thanks Heidi!

Freakin Fun - Part 2

On Tuesday evening we went to Provo Canyon and had a fun picnic with everyone. We found a beautiful place by the Provo River to have our picnic. Since the fast moving river was right next to our picnic area, Gavin spent his time happily in his seat. You really can't take your eyes off of him for a second since he's so busy, so to protect him he stayed strapped in his car seat or the stroller. He did enjoy himself the whole time.







After we ate dinner Aunt Heidi made banana boats with bananas, chocolate, marshmellows and nuts. She cooked them over the fire and they tasted like a banana split. Delicious!

Grandpa and Aunt Heidi helped the boys make s'mores. Yum! By the looks of the boys faces when they were through eating, I think one can say they really enjoyed them.
To keep Gavin entertained, Grandma Great took him for a nice walk up and down the river path. The weather was beautiful and the setting and company were great! It was a nice way to end the day! I only wish we had spots close to us that were as beautiful and convenient as this.

A Freakin Fun Week

Last week we had a fun family week. To put it in Tyler's words he said, "This is Freakin Fun!" I guess that sums it all up. I brought mom up with me when I came. We arrived around noon last Monday, August 3rd. Garry, Heidi, and the children arrived at our condo in Provo that night. It was late but when the children arrived that were excited and wound. We of course, had to visit a while before they went to bed. After a while we all went to bed but unfortunately Tyler had a very bad cough, and before Garry could even go to bed Tyler was up with coughing fits. I got up at 2:00 because I heard Tyler coughing just in time to see Garry and Tyler leaving for Walgreens. I offered to take Tyler but Garry said he'd take him. By the time they returned it was 3:30. Tyler eventually fell asleep but poor Garry only got a few winks before morning arrived and the rest of the gang got up and got ready to go. We started the morning out by just playing with the babies, and soaking in their cuteness. Heidi thoroughly enjoyed holding our precious Lexi. She didn't want to put her down. She's thrilled to finally have a little neice.

Heidi Ann wanted to take Tyler to see a doctor so he could get some help for his cough. She also took Lexi with her. We split up and Garry, Zach, Gavin, and I went to BYU to see Duane and met lots of his co-workers and gathered BYU hats and shirts and other goodies. We also toured the new Hinckley Building because Garry had not had the opportunity to see this beautiful building. When we all returned back home we split again. Mom and Heidi Ann went to the temple, Garry kept Lexi and Gavin and they all had a much needed nap and Heidi Dawn and I took Zach and Tyler to a pottery place called Make Me Mine where the boys had a chance to paint some piggy banks and cereal bowls of their choosing. We had lots of fun.

Next Phase of Recovery

Well the time has come to really work and get healed. Thus far Travis, my physical therapist, has been pretty gentle and easy on me because the bones hadn't healed enough, but as of last Wednesday when I got rid of the brace, Travis got the go ahead to get me walking correctly and to get me stronger. My gait is still not right, so last Friday we really worked on that. To strengthen me, one of the things Travis had me do was pull myself across the room with my bad leg only. I had to pull myself with my heal and go across the room 4 times. I couldn't believe how hard that was. I could barely do it at first, but then it got a little better. I can't say it was easy because it wasn't, but I did do it. Then he had me ride a stationary bike with both feet and then I had to use only my bad leg and do the revolutions with only one leg. He had the resistance up so that was also extremely hard.

Next he had me get on the treadmill with one leg only. I put the stronger leg on the stationary side and practiced walking with my bad leg. After that I walked with two legs and then I had to turn around and walk backwards on the treadmill. I also had to do leg exercises holding onto a table. For some reason, the swelling was particularly bad on Friday. Every day I go I have to lay down for 15 minutes with ice packs on my leg and an electric stimulator. By Friday night I was in so much pain I could barely walk. I don't know if I got overworked or what but it wasn't much fun. When I stop stretching and working I immediately stiffen up and then I'm kind of back to square one. Hopefully I'll be able to walk normal again.
I'm heading to Provo this week to be with Garry, Heidi, and the grandkids who are visiting from Colorado. It should be a fun week. I'll get my workout one way or another.

Graduation Day

Well today was a wonderful day! I had a doctor's appointment today with the knee surgeon. I went to the appointment with my lovely brace on. This contraption has been my constant companion for weeks now. Dr. Parry originally told me that I would be wearing this stabilizer for 6 weeks. After two weeks of miserable sleeping with my lovely friend, I begged the doctor to allow me to take it off to sleep. I was surprised, but he said I could take it off at night. I immediately thought the following night would be wonderful, but much to my dismay sleeping was still very uncomfortable, however much better than with it on. It took a few nights being careful and taking pain meds, but sleeping has gradually gotten better. This Friday would be 5 weeks so I actually got out of this a week early. Hurray!
When I got to the office they x-rayed me to see how it was healing. He was pleased with the progress of the bones healing but saw that I needed practice walking better so he said I could graduate out of the brace. He didn't need to beg me that's for sure. I gladly put it away. This is a side shot of my knee but the front view shows how nice and centered my knee cap is now.
I told the doctor that I had to blog this so I wanted a picture of him for my blog. He said, "Well I think since this is about the knee I should take a picture of your leg", so he grabbed my camera and took some shots of me. I'm very pleased how nicely the scar looks. For me, this is a very nice looking scar.

















And here's the hero of the day, Dr. Todd Parry! Thanks doc, you did a great job!