Sunday, April 27, 2008

Blessings


One of this winter's blessings has been a new friend for Brady. (In the pic, Brady is on the far right and J is next to him.) J and his family moved to Idaho a year or so ago. J is a year younger then Brady, graduating from his home school this year. When Brady met him, he was planning on joining the Air Force this summer, but then a job opportunity tempted him and now he has put that plan on hold for a year or two and is sticking around.

Brady and J planned a successful LAN party a couple of weeks ago. Everyone brings their own computers to these things and they all hook up to the same network to play the same game together. Six guys committed to the afternoon, but at one time they had seven people playing when J's sister decided to hook-up and join in for while. They can't wait until the next party.

We are also rejoicing in Erin's accomplishment of participating in a 1/2 hour Jazz/Modern dance class once a week this school year. I attended their last rehearsal at the studio before yesterday's recital. Their dance was lots of fun. We're so thankful she was able to make it through and do this with her friends.


Saturday, April 19, 2008

Saturday Stuff

I did make it off the couch last night and (thanks to having leftovers in the refrigerator) was able to get to Seussical with my daughter and one of her friends. I enjoyed the play very much (but would have enjoyed it even more if Erin would have been in it. *wink*)

We had a call last evening from the courthouse with the good news that Brent would not have to report to jury duty on Monday - yay, for out of court settlements! The idea of being selected for a jury seems intriguing, but these days, our everyday "norm" beats intrigue, hands down.

Between going out and then not sleeping well last night, its been a rough morning and I'm back on the couch. Erin is the only one home with me today. Brady is at a LAN party, at a friend's house, that he helped organize. Nothing like the thrill of playing a computer game all day with friends (6-8) to spike his adrenaline.

Erin is preparing for an audition for the musical, Fiddler on the Roof, in about ten days. We hear her burst out in song at all times of the day. Like last night after returning home from the play. Nothing like the thought of acting to get her adrenaline going.

All this talk about adrenaline makes me want some. NOW. Anyone have a plane I can jump out of?

Friday, April 18, 2008


Hoping to go see this musical at a local theatre tonight, if I can get up off the couch.
I'm in the mood for some fun entertainment. Happy Friday!

Wednesday, April 16, 2008

April Health Update

Lest you think that our lives have returned to normal, I thought I should once again update you on what has been happening with us health-wise. (If you are contemplating whether you really want to read this or not, it does contain a bit of good news - not all bad!)

Brady still has breathing/chest pain issues, but it is not a constant problem anymore; more like an occurance in which we can say, "Okay, what caused that today?" So that is progress. Last week, or maybe it was the week before, he started having quite a bit of pain in his back, where the kidneys are located. He's had to make some extra trips down to our treatment person south of us (colonic therapy). He also had taken lots of epsom salt or baking soda baths (the baking soda ones especially help relieve the pain of the kidneys.) I spent extra time calling our care givers and getting on my supplement protocol forum asking questions to get help. SCIO treatments were also given.

A few weeks ago, Erin started having a chest pain that was different from Brady's. The last few days she hasn't noticed it. She went south to get a treatment last week, and I think that might have been what helped her to get the most relief. (The health of our colon is such a big deal!) She had a couple of SCIO treatments, too.

The lady that we go to for the colonic treatments gave us some alkaline, ionized water from a machine she just purchased. We've been drinking it for several days. I think that has helped us a bit, too, even though it is water that needs to be consumed as its produced, to get its full effect (we're bringing home 2, 3 gallon jugs of it at a time). The salesperson of this machine tested our filtered water and even though it is getting rid of contaminates, it is very acidic and there is not a good level of oxygen in it. I've started studying up on alkaline, ionized water, to consider if purchasing a machine would help our health. (Yeah, another one of those big investments.) But one thing we have learned in the past six months is that our bodies are very acidic and so far, we haven't succeeded in changing that too much.

Anyway, I had been "down" in March and the beginning of this month, first with a cold and then with a flare of systemic yeast. A SCIO treatment helped me to feel less sick. After a couple of colonic treatments and a few days of drinking the water, I actually felt some energy. I was able to go on my first walk, since last summer, on our sunny Sunday (and I even attended church that morning.) WOW!!!! Can you imagine what a treat that was? I was not only outside soaking up the sun, I was moving. My body let me out of jail for a furlough, so to speak. I've also noticed (and so has my family) that I haven't been on the couch quite as much the last few days.

Last week about this time, I was quite fearful of this coming week. Brady needed to go south for a treatment on Tuesday and Thursday; Erin and I had to head north for a treatment on Thursday. Our fatigue was incredible. Brent was only to have one day out of seven off (Thursday). Between the baths, treatments, and the drinking of the ionized water making us feel a little better, plus Brent taking a vacation day, the week has not been nearly as "ugly" as it could have been. I'm not saying it's going to be easy getting through a long weekend without Brent's help, but it is looking a lot more "doable." *sighs with relief*

Pray that we will have wisdom about the alkaline water machine. Pray that our digestive problems would resolve and with that, we could return to good health. Pray that Brent continues to have strength for his ill family and his "paying" job. God has protected us and provided for us in so many ways. We know He is hearing and answering your prayers. Thank you and may He bless you in return for your faithfulness to us.

Monday, April 14, 2008

Snow again!

After our three day reprieve from winter, with temperatures reaching around 70 degrees on Sunday, swirling snowflakes are once again the scene outside our windows.

I recently finished reading Dr. Thorne, by Anthony Trollope. Here's a quote from the book that, living in the northwest part of United States, struck home.

'The winter wore away, and the chill, bitter, windy, early spring came round. The comic almanacs give us dreadful pictures of January and February; but, in truth, the months which should be made to look gloomy in England are March and April. Let no man boast himself that he has got through the perils of winter till at least the seventh of May.'

Friday, April 11, 2008

Here Comes the Sun

Sunshine! The forecast for the weekend is sunny and clear skies. We haven't heard a forecast like that for at least six months. Hooray!
Some of the sights and sounds that come with nice, spring weather in our hometown include spray planes (crop dusters in northwest speak);


the first grass trim of the year, (it has snowed almost every day this month except today, and dh mowed our top front and back lawns); spring flowers, (the crocuses are in front of your house, VDs!)
And the skaters come. They park right in front of our house to skate down the hill. Seems it's the best "skater hill" in town.

You especially want to click on this picture to enlarge.

Monday, April 07, 2008

Birthday present!


I received my birthday present Saturday afternoon. Here's some quick snaps I took around the house while practicing with it.
I had the flash turned off and wasn't using a tri-pod, so some aren't as clear as they could be. I'm loving this camera, though. Yippee!




Tuesday, April 01, 2008

Watching the Academy Awards in California: Part II

APRIL FOOLS!

I'm sorry, I just cannot seem to get that post written....soon...soon...my post should be titled:

"Family" Fun


Friends from Arizona contacted us today to see if we would be around this weekend so they could come and visit us! We haven't seen them in about 13 or 14 years (whenever we last visited AZ), so we are super excited. They are flying to a town north of us to look into a school for their son and they have time to zip down on Friday evening, stay overnight and spend most of the morning with us before their plane leaves at 2:30 on Saturday.

Brent lived with A, along with two other guys, in Glendale, AZ before they each started getting engaged. They were all new pharmacists and none of them were from Arizona, but from the midwest. The engagements seemed to happen one after another - peer pressure, I mean peer envy, must have set in. So the group of us, along with several other midwest pharmacist couples, quickly became "family" that shared birthday and holiday celebrations, Friday nights, wedding showers, baby showers, and mini-vacations together. Shortly after A and M were married, they moved to California for a short time. By the time they came back to live in Arizona, we were almost packed up to move to Colorado. Since then our Arizona "family's" communication has been mostly through Christmas letters because of out-of-state moves and the busy schedules of raising our families. But I know we all look forward to a time when we'll see more of each other again; hopefully during the wonderful winter months when we northerners need some of that Arizona sun to warm up our 'ol bones. *smiles*