Congrats Adrian!!

Adrian's teacher called me this morning & apologized for short notice but Adrian was getting an award at the assembly. This is what she says.....

Darla I'm giving him the KNOWLEDGEABLE award... don't you think that is more fitting for him???

Well, it does fit him but I almost felt that she was grasping at a reason to give him an award.. Kind of funny!!!

Congrats Adrian!!!!

Double Post Sunday.....

I liked the other background but that Santa was giving me the creeps.. So I'm trying this one on for size *lol*

What is this world coming to???

My thoughts and prayers are with the families & the Tacoma Police. What a tragic
thing to happen... What is this world coming to.. My brother is a police office and it's bad
enough they all risk their lives everyday dealing with the idiots that are out there but to be sitting in a coffee house and have it all bluntly ended is just terrible....

My prayers are with them....

Thanksgiving Weekend.....

This has been a great weekend... Nick wanted the boys to come down for the weekend. Since Annette & I both have had the holiday blues. Friday we decided to run to Tricities and experience a little bit of BLACK FRIDAY... The only catch was, we only seemed to hit the craft stores *lol*.. and if you count going back to one store twice we hit 4 stores *lol*. I was able to get Christmas Card supplies for my card (which I totally changed today). I also bought supplies to make Christmas gifts for teachers, friends & co-workers. Now, to get them completed will be a whole nother story *lol*..

But today, we started about 2:00 or so & we worked until 5:30. She needed to leave & I continued... My house looks like this

But once the ink all drys my card will look like this

I used my cuttle bug, I stamped and even cut straight ... ahh what a successful day!!

Random Thoughts at 1:00 a.m.......

I love my family-

Our family is growing -

I love my brothers & my mom - ( Mike, wish you guys were here)

I love Dave's family - (Pat wish you were here)

When is it appropriate to tell your mom, it's time to pass the dinner torch?

How do you tell your mom it's time to pass the dinner torch without offending her??

Why is it I couldn't keep my eyes awake at 7:30 and now it's 1:30 a.m. and I can't sleep?

Is it appropriate to have your mom pick out her Christmas Present - so she gets exactly what she wants?

I hope Eric is getting some sleep.. He had such a long day today, I think he over did it..

Will the little boys appreciate all I did when they get older or will they just remember this year I didn't take them to their great grandparents for Thanksgiving??

Jenn text me at 10:40 asking if i was alseep & I was. Now, I'm worried that she needed something.

I'm so thankful for the friendships that I've made. My life would not be complete with out them..

I wander how many crazy people will be out at 4:30 a.m. for shopping, Will you be one of them?

Hoping I can find a cute idea for a Christmas Card...

Hoping I can boost my friend Annette's spirits tomorrow, she's having an understandable tough time..

Ok, Babble time is officially over....

Happy Thanksgiving!!!

Wishing you all a blessed Thanksgiving day. We all have so much to be thankful for !!!!

Eric-2 week check

Today I took Eric back to the doctor for a 2 week check up. I was amazed at how much he has improved. It took him only about 5 mins to get himself into the car. Two weeks ago it was a 20 minute process.

The doctor said everything looked great. They pulled up his previous xrays and also showed us his current. Alls I can say is Wow!!! The technology is amazing these days.

We left at 7:10 this morning & was back in Moses Lake by 11:30. It was quick trip and just a little painful for him . We were scheduled for another visit in 4 weeks to remove his external fixator but they will be on vacation so it will be 5 weeks and he will be rod free :)

Things are lookin up :)

Day 7 - Homeward Bound.....

1) Meeting with the doctor & ironing out all the details for his release

2) Wandering why we've had such awesome nurses and the last day we are there two of them totally sucked!!

3) "Bud I didn't weigh it but I'd say 30 Lbs was pretty close" *lol*

4) Making sure everything was ready at home for him

5) Jeff coming back with the Van to pick him up

6) Picking up prescriptions - over $500.00 worth & thankful it was L&I

7) Wishing I could take the pain away from him...

8) Transferring into the van & the relief felt once he was in

9) Having Jeff take him by the Tire Store so he could show off his hardware *lol*

10) Getting him home, unloaded, back in bed, totally wiped out

11) Running around Moses Lake looking for items he needed to clean his wounds - Finally calling Dr. Warner's office in a panic after striking out - What am I going to do without Dr. Warner??

12) Being so thankful for Kevin .....

13)Having to take the boys home, knowing I wasn't there to help....

14) Tossed and turned all night -

Day 6 - Random Thoughts

1) Deciding it would be better to stay till Tuesday instead of going home on Monday

2) Perfecting the transfer from hospital bed to wheel chair - Eric & I

3) Kevin driving up just so that he could work with Eric at his 4:00 physical therapy

4) Physical therapy telling me how cool it was to see the boys working so good together in his transfer - she pretended to take picture & said to me "Kodak Moment".

5) Sheri & R.J. coming up for a visit - laughing so hard that Eric told his we needed to stop being so funny cuz it was killing him

6) How much prune juice can one person drink???

7) Running a fever - causing doubt that he'd be released to go home on Tuesday

8) Realizing he was afraid for me to leave that night - He was feeling pretty sick

9) Convincing him I wouldn't leave so that he would try to sleep... Sleeping for 2 hrs straight - taking 5 mins to wake him up to check temp cuz he was sweating & clammy

10) Fever breaking & him feeling much better & telling me I could leave but wanted me back as early as I could so I didn't miss the doctor

Day 5 - Random Thoughts

1) Saying goodbye to the boys & being so thankful that Jenn was willing to take care of them so I could get back to Spokane

2) Talking with Eric & realizing his spirits were soooo down

2) Stopping by the office, grabbing my laptop, and seeing how much work I was going to have to pass off to Heather

3) Finding out Jeff had decided to go back up on Sunday too & knowing how happy Eric was going to be (not a good idea for both of us to leave)

4) Getting off of 4th floor elevator to be greeted by Christa's family, & Grandma & Grandpa Whitaker...

5) Family Photo ops- with reindeer ears, & rudolf nose (Jared was adoreable)

6) Visiting with Mitch before he flew out

7) Kevin & Amanda returning for a visit & the happiness it brought to Eric to see him

8) Eric over doing it just to prove a point to his father that it would hurt to try it his way & it did!!

9) Talking with Diane Voise & being so apologetic for not being able to commit to helping her & Maki on the "Etching of the mugs" for the wedding..

10) Diane coming by and visiting with us - Eric saying he still had 3 weeks to interfere with the wedding plans & the laughter we shared over his comments that he had one up on her fiance - he had an outrigger & the fiance didn't.. *lol*

11) Leaving him alone for the first time since he'd been in the hospital, although I was only 10 mins away at the motel

Day 4 - Random Thoughts

1) Waking up at 5:00 a.m. - Crying cuz I knew I had to leave for the day & neither Jeff & I would be there

2) Thankful for the Whitaker family - Grandma , Grandpa, Christa's family, were all headed up to stay with Eric

3) Grandpa Whitaker wanting a 15 min. visitation limit posted on the door

4) Crying every time I thought about leaving but knowing I had to resituate the little boys

5) Thankful that Mitch was flying in from California even though Grandpa ruined the surprise

6) Eric getting himself into his wheelchair & moving around on the 4th floor - Physical Therapy was thankful that she told him he couldn't leave the 4th floor when she found him by the elevators

7) Physical Therapy stopping me in the hall & telling me what a polite young man Eric was & how he would bounce back all because he had such a great attitude. And telling me "YOU DID GOOD MOM".... Wow, more tears on that one :)

8)The drama was at the high point, needing to see the boys, needing to take mom home

9)Wayne Christensen stopping by to see me... I went to school with him and haven't seen him since highschool. My mom's neighbor is a mutal friend & called him to tell him we were there.
We were able to spend a short time catching up

10) The unexpected company - Mike Leavitt, Rhett Watkins - Eric was amazed ......

11) The uneasiness of saying goodbye, walking out of the hospital knowing I was more than 10 mins. away, and not being back till tomorrow late morning

Day 3 - Random Thoughts

1) Breakfast at Perkins - Fearing for the waitress - as she was not very good & not realizing denying my mom her coffee should have been causing more fear for her in her life

2) Eric's attitude was amazing -

3) 1st day of Physical Therapy - actually sitting up & moving to the side of the bed

4) Amazed at the outpour of the community- the phone calls, the texts, the facebook comments

5) The fear of the unknowing leaving & the emptiness of not being at the retreat setting in

6) Eric's company - R.J. Kisler, Luke Grant - All the laughs - The grant for the short bus to help with the expenses - using Eric to get the grant's (it's a handicapp bus R.J. bought at an auction for a tailgating bus to the games) - Not being able to test out the $10.00 boat, afraid Eric might sink if the boat sank but than again they could hook onto his outrigger & pull him in... Cooper Grahm & Matt Yamamoto stopping by... Travis ( Eric's cousin) - choosing to spend the night with Eric so he wouldn't be alone over going to a party with his friends ...

7) Jeff having to leave & not wanting to

8) The thankfullness that I felt, that Jeff, I, & Louetta can all be in the same room & my kids know that we are a family!!!

9) The thankfullness for the doctors and nurses at Sacred Heart Hospital

10) The love for my family

Day 2 - Surgery

It seemed like I didn't sleep much, more of a toss and turn. Shortly after we fell asleep the alarm went off. Mom showered and then I. The uncertainy was still there. I found myself crying tears but not letting them go, burrying them inside. We headed down for a quick bite in the restraunt and then headed for the hospital. We arrived between 7:30 and 8:00 a.m. It was so good to see Eric but he was in so much pain. It was so hard to sit there and watch him hurting. My mom always said that the hardest thing she ever had to do was watch me in labor with the kids, she said she would have switched me in a heart beat. I now knew exactly what she was saying. I wanted so much to ease his pain & nothing I could do could help. The nurses and doctors were in an out all morning. They had finally come in and said they would be taking him down about 11:30. Jenn, Deandre, Kevin & Amanda were all able to make it in time for the surgery. Without going into detail, the stress levels were high, the drama was not wanted & I was struggling with it all. Grandma's were struggling with being only Grandma, siblings were struggling cuz they were feeling left out & I was struggling because I'm mom and I trump them all .... The time came for them to take him away... I felt lost... I knew he would be better once he came out but what a overwhelming feeling as I watched him roll away. We headed up to the waiting room... I was so sick to my stomach, my head was pounding. Jenn went and got me some water & some crackers. Hoping to settle it a bit. The four of them headed to get a bite, as Jeff, Mom and I waited. My Aunt & her husband returned. He had had an appt. in Spokane so they decided to drop by and check on us all.. As we waited, my phone had rang, it was my brother Mike. Mike & his family live over by Bremerton. We are not exactly close . He was feeling helpless & informed me he wanted to send money to help with expenses. He couldn't get away & that was his way of helping. I refused the money but not without appreciation & a promise if this was prolonged I would contact him for help. As I spoke with him I fell apart. We were extremely close growing up and then we had a falling out. But to know that he was there for me, for Eric was amazing. I guess "Families are Forever". The wait was finally over & the doctor came out. She was very pleased with the surgery. She was able to put the screw in the back on the left side & then attach what they call an outrigger to hold the rest in place. What a relief.. After she left Jeff & I hugged and of course I had more tears of relief. We all started making phone calls trying to update everyone. We headed down to eat it was late afternoon. I don't think I've seen 3 people shovel food in as fast as we did. Eric was to be in recovery for an hour and we all wanted to be back as soon as we could. He finally was returned to his room. The room was filled with nurses, checking vitals, inserting I.V.'s , you can only imagine... Well, than poor Eric became the brunt of the jokes. His "outrigger" was two rods, each inserted in an inscision on his hips. How they are attached inside I will never understand. the rods stick out about 8-10 inches and cross in the middle. They are bolted together. Now with him lying on his back, and the sheet pulled over he has quite the little tent going on.centered directly above his pelvic area.. I honestly think every doctor, every nurse & every visitor had a comment or joke to make about his new "out rigger". The kids had finally headed home & about 6:30 p.m., I looked around- Mom was exhausted, Jeff had started nodding off & Eric was in and out. I was emotionally and physically wiped. I decided it was time to go. Jeff was to stay again that night, so he had someone with him , just in case. I gave Eric my love & we left. I couldn't wait to crawl into bed & sleep..... Well, mom needed to eat- so I ordered pizza. It was delivered to the room and as we are eating she informs me that she will be staying up to 11:00 watching t.v. ... Once again my stress level was maxed. I rolled over, found some Tylenol P.m., put a cold cloth on my head & began to doze. After the 3rd time of being woke up because she wanted to share what was happening on the t.v. I politely explained I was exhausted, I don't watch t.v. & really needed to sleep..... AHHHHH .. I think she finally understood....

Day 1 - Eric

Wednesday morning was a normal day at work, except that Heather & I had been planning off and on for the big retreat. I had just spoke with Annette a few bits before & she had requested that I not attend her mom's funeral. She had told me that her mom & herself would be rather upset if I missed the retreat, that we would get together sometime next week. I had spent a bit of the morning teary eyed. I had walked into Heather's office to do something & was called a way to the phone. Jeff was on the other line, and he had told me that Eric had had a tractor tire with rim & calcium fall on him. They were getting him stabalized and heading to Samaratin Hospital. He assured me that he was conscious & it was more of a precaution. So I turned to tell Heather, my heart was racing, the tears were coming. I walked over and told my boss, that I had to leave and as I started to tell him, the tears and the trembling started. After trying to convince them & myself I could drive, they had me in the car & we were headed to Samaratin.

I called Dave on the way and asked him to meet us there. We beat the ambulance there. I

started filling out the admitting papers, when they told me the ambulance was there & I turned and saw Dolly. I Had no idea she was even there. All of a sudden they pushed him in on a stretcher, with a c-collar, oxygen... I started to cry.... There was my baby & I couldn't do anything to help him. They took him in and started to assess him. It seemed like it took forever for them to finally get him for his cat scan. They were only allowing 1 person in with him but it didn't take long & Jeff & I both vetoed it. He was in so much pain... They finally took him down and it was to be about 30 mins. I went to the waiting room , where my mom, Jeff's parents, Louetta, Jeff, Dave & Dolly & "DEB" were ... I saw Deb and totally fell apart. She was upstairs visiting her beautiful new grandaughter when Heather had called her. They finally brought Eric back and I swear it was over an hour to an hour and 1/2 for them to get the scan read. After he came back he was holding my hand and said "MA- It's bad"... I said Eric maybe it's just broke and it will be an easy fix.. He said "No-Ma it's bad.. When they moved me I could feel things moving around in my pelvis." My heart sank. My mind started to race.. Where would they send him, what would I do with the boys, I didn't have any cash, the banks were close... They walked in and said. Bud - we are getting you out of here.. They told us he had internal bleeding & 4 areas of his pelvis that were crushed. I thought I was gonna puke. They gave us an option of Wenatchee or Spokane & Jeff just said we want the best!! I asked if they were gonna take him by ambulance and they said NO.. we are airlifting him to Sacred Heart in Spokane. They were concerned with the bleeding. My heart was racing, my head was racing.. Where do I begin so I can go.. Jeff & I decided he would take off so that someone would be there when he flew in and I would stay with him so he wasn't alone when he flew out.. After a very lengthy discussion, mom headed home to pack, Jeff headed home to pack & head out, I called the kids and told them, Nick was able to come down and stay with the boys. After a few more tests that about killed Eric with pain, they had him stretchered on and off they went. I was able to squeeze his hand, and tell him I loved him & I'd be there shortly behind him & Dad would be there about the same time... As he wheeled off the tears began. I walked out and my cousins Sue & Kelly met me. We went out to the parking lot & waited & watched. It was absolutely the hardest thing I've ever had to do was watch my son, fly off in pain, not knowing what lied ahead & I was left behind... I said a prayer for a safe flight, for the doctors wisdom & for the families safe travel, and me to find strength.

After rushing home to pack & pick up my mom, we headed to Spokane. Spokane seems thousands of miles and this day it even seemed longer. The phone was ringing off the hook with calls of concern, family keeping in touch & etc. About 20 mins away Dave called with good news. The trama doctor had assessed Eric and things were still bad but not as bad as the other doctors had thought. The internal bleeding was caused just from the injury, there was no other bleeding.. It would heal on it's own. 2nd, they were actually calling his pelvis broken in 4 places instead of crushed. The trama doctor still needed to contact the orthopedic surgeon to figure out when they would be putting him back together. Mom & I parked the car at the hospital, and what seemed like a lifetime to find our way to the ER, we made it. Jeff, Louetta, Dave were there. I think my mouth fell open when I saw Tom (our loyal fence post from work), his wife Staci, and their son Chad. They were in Spokane & decided to stop. Pretty soon Kevin and Amanda, my Aunt Karen & her husband Leo, my cousin Sue & Kelly arrrived. They finally asked us to take turns in being in the room.. Mom & Dad trumped them all but we were sure to let others in. Eric got the best care in the E.R. They finally moved him to a room on the 4th floor. He was to be admitted and then the surgeon would be up to discuss what they were to do. After they admitted him, Dave made me & mom leave to go get a bite to eat. Dolly, Allison & him had driven up, they got me and mom a room at the Quality Inn about 10 mins. away. We went to the room & met up with Dolly and headed down for a bite. I have to say the anxiety I was feeling was overwhelming. I was so relived that it was looking brighter but so scared as to the future. We all headed for the dining room & got a quick bite. Then they took us back to the room. Shortly after, Jenn and Deandre had showed up. It was getting late & were beginning to wander if the doctor would be in. Sure enough, SHE, arrived. She was awesome. She won our families trust immediately. She explained the options of surgery that she had to fix Eric's pelvis. Surgery was scheduled anywhere from 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. the following day. After our questions were answered she left. Jeff said goodbye to Louetta, as she needed to get home. Kevin and Amanda had to head home he needed to work in the a.m. Jeff headed down to get a bite with Jenn & Deandre as mom & myself waited. Jeff was going to stay in the room with Eric. After Jeff returned we said goodbye to Jenn and Deandre, kissed Eric goodnight & headed to the room to try and sleep. It was about 11:00 p.m. What a day.....

God picked a pretty flower for his garden on Monday night..

My thoughts and prayers go out to the Kalous / Pixton families...

Annette's mom, Dorothy passed away on Monday. Dorothy was such an amazing women & touched the lives of so many.. She never met a stranger, she always made you smile, and welcomed all with open arms.

I want to share a story. We've spent the past few years camping with Annette & Dorothy. All of my kids got to know her & loved her.. The older ones would always ask is "Grandma Dorothy" gonna be there. So Adrian & Elijah have gotten to know her pretty well. So yesterday when Annette called to tell me, I had to tell the boys. Adrian's first comment was "Poor Nick," I looked at him and asked "Why poor Nick" , he replies " Now who's gonna kick Nick's butt playing cards camping".. *lol* Elijah's reply was "Mom, I don't want to be gross but," and I said but what Elijah "But I kindof loved Dororothy". She not only touched my life but she touched theirs..

Rest in peace Dorothy... Thank you for sharing your life with my family!!

Random Thinking....

I feel like I have mental issues going on tonight.. I barely complete one thought and then I jump to another....

The retreat is here - I should be printing, putting packets together, packing and I'm not

Should I take my swimsuit, If I do - Will I wear it, Can I even find it??

I need to finish Heather's journal - Simplify- If I could simplify my life would be so much easier - This might be my shortest journal entry yet


I need to clean the house before I go but I will just come home to a mess *lol*

I guess when I do heater checks, I better check the inside & under the heater as well as nearby the heater. The smell of melting nerf darts is not a scent I want to get used to.. That was a close call.

Why are people so quick to judge others?? We all have our own beliefs, our own thoughts, and things that make us happy... Just because it's not what makes you happy doesn't mean it's wrong....

The neighbors two doors down are moving, what's the chance a decent family will move in ?

Thanksgiving is just around the corner, what will I make to fill in to go with the Turkey, Potato's, Rolls, and Ham that mom is making... I better start my list

When playing Farmville, Do not get excited, I repeat - Do not get excited and spend all your money after Harvest & then remember you haven't planted yet, and no longer have money to buy the seeds to plant *lol*

Who will take the position of ordering matches.....

Changes are around the bend.... Scarey!!!

Lexi is trying to have a baby tonight.... what if they were wrong & it's a boy :)

I'm so glad Elijah went to bed at 7:00 - I'm not sure what the heck got into him but he reminded me of a ball in a pin ball machine - bouncing from one side to the other...

So as you can see... My brain is circling.. I'm soooo ready for this weekend (mentally).. if I could just get ready physically ....


Few more days ladies!!!!

Happy Birthday Maleigha....

Maleigha turned six years ol on Saturday . They had a party for her at the bowling alley... It was alot of fun..

Well he popped the question.......

Well Friday night, Deandre got down on one knee while they were at dinner & proposed to Jenn.... and she said YES!!!

I'm so happy for them. He has brought the spark back into her eye, a smile back on her face, is such a great dad, & fits into the family..

Congrats Deandre, Jenn, Mazzlin & Maleigha - Love you guys!!!

Halloween Pictures....

This was the special little treat that was deliverd at my door for Halloween. My cousin's son came by and asked if I would watch him for a few hours so they could go thru the haunted house. I love this picture, the look on Elijah's face made me want to have a little one again.. *I know then I woke up* lol



Jenn and Deandre took the kids over to Eric & Kevin's to trick or treat . Eric must have had a hard day at work, he doesn't look very happy!!

Kevin & Deandre's girls ( Mazzlin & Melaigh)

Jenn took the boys over to see their Great Grandparents.

Here's the crew - Deandre (not wearing his freaky mask) Jenn as a pussy cat the two Star Wars boys, the princess bride & Alex of Waverly place.

They had alot of fun. Brought home more candy than I gave out *lol*