Home again

Greetings,
I am home again and it has only been a week since I had the surgery. But I am already restless and ready to get on with life. I still want my life back.

The hormones are raging and causing great distress but If I have to go through it to get to where I want to be, so be it.

This picture (thanks Lexy) reminds me of what I am living for; to honor the past, enjoy the present and bless the future.

It's late and even after all the rest I have had--all day long--I need to go to bed. But I wanted to thank everyone who cared and prayed for my health and safety. The Lord and your prayers saw me through this major step in recovery.

I'll love you forever, Mom

PS I had it which the local doctors and took my own stitches out-I was not going to go all the way back to SLC for two little stitches. So I guess you can see I am getting some of my spunk back!

Hi Granny

Sarah took this picture over the Easter weekend. I thought it was just darling! It made me think of the wonderful day when I see them at my door again. That will be after the "big day." Granny and I are headed for SLC today. Tomorrow is the big day, finally. I am so looking forward to getting my life back.

I love you all and truly appreciate all your prayers.

Renee

A New Resident and Easter weekend visitors

A Little Easter Love, Mia and Granny

It seems we have a new resident at 446 N 400 West, a muskrat. I think it is a muskrat. I didn't move my car for a week or so. When I did I found a good size pile of poop and fur under it. I could not imagine where it had come from. This morning, however, on our way to the temple at 7 a.m. out on the lawn was this animal. Way to big to be a squirrel but brownish gray with a tail kinda' like a squirrel. He seemed to be eating our newly raked grass. The minute we opened the front door, he was gone. We have since found a couple of poop and fur piles--Why the fur in the pile? Do you think they clean their coats after winter and eat it. . . .ugh!

What should we do about our new resident? I really have had enough of the poop piles. Since the dearly departed Elvis has gone on to greener pastures it has been nice to be able to take the kiddos out into the yard without worrying all the time about what they might find or step in. Animal control? that doesn't seem to neighborly. Maybe Derek next door could just hunt him down. That seems even less neighborly. Oh the joy of "muskrat love."

He didn't show his face during our Easter egg hunt. It was so cute. Noah was the horder, Lily caught on. Mia got lots of help from Ella and her Mom, Benji crawled around a bit but liked what he already had in his basket more than the ones spread all over. Tessa watched from her Dad's arms. And Ella Had her own scavenger hunt and seemed to really enjoyed it.

The lineup; Tessa, Noah, Ella. Mia. Lily, and Benji.

Granny watches from the ONLY Rocking chair

Ella and Granny





Lily the runaway! Caught by Rachael followed by Seuao and Tessa

Noah the Champion!

Of course there were lots of great pictures followed by a really sweet devotional by Lexy and a family dinner.. What a great Easter fun day!

Papa and Benji

After all the festivities the Marmot was found hiding between the garage and the shed. there are various pictures of the not so little fellow on cell phones and cameras around the house. But sorry, none have made it to my computer yet. Stay tuned!

Christmas Reprise!

As Easter approaches, it's fun to remember Christmas. Welcome little guys! (and parents) to our Easter celebration!

Yet ANOTHER Doctor

I couldn't believe it when the Surgeon's office called wanted to put this surgery off for another week. I just couldn't take it. So, he decided that the best thing is probably that his partner do it if he could. The partner agreed, while I was waiting on the phone ( funny how easily these guys can talk to each other and how hard it is for us to get through hummmm). So, the surgery is still on but with a different doctor. The original, Dr Rich, said he would meet me at the hospital and introduce me to the new doctor, Joel MacDonald. (see this web site for a picture and other info--http://medicine.utah.edu/neurosurgery/faculty/macdonald.htm.
I am so done with this whole thing! this doctor is an assistant professor at the U of U and has a long list of research articles he's published . I also called Dr. Grua's office to see what they thought about the new guy. They will call me tomorrow. I guess I feel ok about it.

Please Lord, get me through this. I really want my life back.

Thanks guys for listening and seeing me through-I couldn't do it without you!

I want to be good

"You are good. But it is not enough just to be good.
You must be good for something.
You must contribute good to the world.
The world must be a better place for your presence.
And the good that is in you must be spread to others."
---President Gordon B. Hinckley

Get out there and do some good today!

The Latest on the Tumor

Well it is still there and still growing. Today I visited the Ear Nose and Throat specialist (ENT) that will navigate through the nose and sinuses, probably only 4-5 inches.
Dr. Child seems to know what he is doing. He is very smart he graduated Magna cum Laude from theU of U. And he has done this a number of times before.

He did a CT scan and got a good look at the sinus work I had done a few years ago. He thinks the nasal approach will be just fine. He also said it appears that the tumor has broken through the sella, a boney covering that fronts the pituitary gland. They have to break through it anyway to get to the tumor. It's just an indicator of the size. They won't have any trouble finding the thing now.

So, it is all go for the 15th. at the new hospital in SLC. Pat calls it the "behemoth." It is scheduled for 7:30 am, although I have to be there at 5:30--that is early! That means I have to leave home about 4 a.m. UGH!

Although the after care is sounding a little more difficult than I originally imagined. I plan on putting the time in the hospital to good use, recovering. no projects, no journal articles. I will most likely not return to Logan until Monday (sorry guys, I will not be able to help with the Ward outside spring clean-up) after I see the ENT and get the sinus packing removed. Just the thoughts of that gives me the shivers. Face it, this is not a tonsillectomy. and I am not 8 years old.

But the future "looks" bright and clear!