Friday, April 16, 2010
Happy Little Spring Romp
Some Links For You
Also, my family fell asleep early last night which left me with some time for catching up on conference (watching it on DVR is my personal study time this week) and blogs. My dear Kacy Faulconer (yes, the one who was quoted in the Ensign article about blogging last fall) had me laughing so hard, I produced tears. Actual tears. I enthusiastically recommend her whole blog, but her new series called "Obvious Tips for Not-Very-Good-Homemakers" will SLAY you. Click HERE for part one and HERE for part two, and wait with baited breath for part three. Remember to leave your own tips. The image of Kacy in PJs at 10:30am eating Flamin' Hot Cheetos will delight me for days.
And even though I am feeling a little tired of commercial blogs (because let's face it, much of the realness evaporates in the glow of all that compensation), it's MAN WEEK over at cjane and there are some really great posts there. I hope all of you will click over and read what the menfolk have had to say all week, but I am begging my brothers/brothers-in-law to do so. Also, my amiga Stephanie Ingermanson "FINGER CHUCK" Lund has been on a roll at her blog and you will not be disappointed if you click over and catch up.
And now, adieu. I have a few more yearbook pages to make.
Thursday, April 15, 2010
Birthday Dinner
Heidi with her gift from Addie Heidi with her cupcakes
Three silly Melin boys
(Uncle Mike, James, and Daddy Rich)
Birthday Cupcake!
Heidi with her family gift (gum).
Heidi's gift from Nana Lyn and Papa Bill--THANKS!
Heidi's gift from Uncle Mike...
Heidi's Birthday Gift from Nana and Papa Mark from MelinFamily on Vimeo.
"Happy, Happy Birthday, Heidi-Dear...
If I had one wish, then it would be
A happy, happy birthday to you from me!"
Heidi, 19 months old, having a sink bath
(click for details)
***
Saturday, she is having a "Jungle coloring party with elephants and flamingos" (I think this was inspired by her visit to the zoo last week, because until then, she had been asking for a Monsters vs. Aliens party with a Blob cake...yikes)
This is her party invite,
***
...and I'm still daydreaming of this:
Tuesday, April 13, 2010
Quick Update
I've had some questions about the exact medical situations of Grampy and Mom, so here's what I know:
Grandpa was sick for a few weeks and didn't tell anyone. On Saturday, March 27th, my brother went to take him out to lunch for his birthday (his 85th bday was March 29th), and found him in bed (unheard of), unshaven (even LESS heard of) and ill. Grandma had called my uncles to come bless him. They did, and then they called the paramedics, who took his vitals and whisked him away to the hospital. He was diagnosed with bleeding ulcers, but then when they did the UGI scan, they found lymphoma in his spleen, pancreas, and kidneys, and found him to be in borderline renal failure (this was last Friday, 4/2--they gave him a few days to week to live). After some debate, he chose to do a round of chemotherapy, though the doctors admit there is no precedent for successful treatment of an 85-year-old. Each day last week, he had a different drug with a different reaction, and his kidneys have pulled through (barely) without dialysis. It has been a rollercoaster ride, the doctors saying he's well enough to go home tomorrow, then saying he's crashing for one reason or another. I kept thinking of that 70s TV theme song--"Just take it like it comes: one day at a time." Poor little Grandma...sigh...poor BOTH OF THEM!
My mom is still a little anemic and weak, and still has blood clots in her lungs. She is on oxygen and taking a rituximab/prednisone infusion each week (Thursdays). She is with a new doctor at the Huntsman Cancer Center now and I think she will get the help she needs to get better. Mark and the kids are holding up well. My sister who is in recovery for opioid addiction seems to be doing better, too, and got to spend some time with Grandpa this week. Hopefully this experience will be a catalyst for a season of better things, progress, hope, improvement, for all involved. Onward, ever onward, y'all.
Monday, April 12, 2010
ARIZONA TRIP
James, Heidi, and Addie
James with his loot!
***
After the egg hunt, we got in the car and drove 10 hours to Richfield, Utah (approximately half way to Tucson, with a $25 hotel room!). It was snowy most of the way down...look at our car:
Our van was all icy when we stopped in Ashton, ID!
It was much warmer past Idaho Falls at this Sinclair Station...James on the dinosaur. I remember this was during Elder Ballard's conference talk on Sunday (we were so lucky--we could hear conference starting near Norris, MT on KSL).
Addie also rode the dinosaur in Idaho.
DAY TWO (Monday) was almost strictly driving from Richfield to Tucson. We got to Tucson at 5pm and stopped at eegee's for dinner. My heart almost burst as my kids squealed with delight as they ate their pina-colada eegee's and enjoyed the warm breeze and gorgeous sunset that night. We checked in to the hotel and I took and shower and hurried over to the hospital and then to Gram's house (see "Some Letters" post below) and Walmart. We had a wonderful night's sleep--the beds at the La Quinta Inn were wonderful!
***
DAY THREE: TUESDAY
Tuesday Morning I went to the hospital at 8:30am and found Grandpa finihsing his breakfast (see "on Tuesday" post below). I had the best day with him and Gram and all the wonderful visitors. Richard took the kids to the zoo then back to the hotel to swim, but first he brought them to Grandpa's window (above). They were so excited to see him!
He felt so sick that day, but was happy to see the kids.
(We made the little sign on his wall there in this pic...each little circle has lyrics from "You Are My Sunshine")
Heidi was so happy to see elephants at the zoo!
Late Tuesday night, my sister Jill and brother Michael and his friend Amber joined us for dinner at El Charro Cafe (birthplace of the chimichanga, right next to our hotel!). The food was sooo good, but the company was even better!
***
DAY FOUR: Wednesday
My sweet SIL Kristen offered to watch the kids at her parent' home so Richard and I could visit Grandpa and help out at Grandma's house. We took the kids up to Dever's house, grabbed a Yokohama rice bowl, and went to work fixing the computer, cleaning up the laundry room, and washing some of our clothes, too. LAter, we picked up the children and met Grandma and Aunt Marti at Trail Dust Town to eat dinner at Pinnacle Peak. My Uncle Matt is the director of security there--or, as we like to call him, the sherriff of Trail Dust Town--and we planned to meet up with him, but he had already gone home to Sahuarita. He did make arrangements for us to ride the train and carousel for free, though. We had delicious cowboy steaks and ribs at Pinnacle Peak (the kids LOVED the atmosphere AND the yummy food) with Gram and Auntie, then we stayed and watched the gun fight show, rode the train and carousel, shot rifles in the shooting gallery, and bought vintage candies at the candy store for dessert. It was a memorable fun time for the kids--thanks, Uncle Matt!
Addie on the carousel.
After this, we went back to the hotel and actually got to bed at a decent hour. Thanks again, Uncle Matt. The kids had a great time and this made the trip more like a fun spring break than the sad visit it could have been. Thanks, also, Kristen, for babysitting. You always think of such kind and helpful ways to help in difficult situations (Of course we would have loved to spend the day with you, too! The kids loved being with you and Owen, though).
***
DAY FIVE: THURSDAY
The day began with grandpa taking a no-visitors rest in the morning, so Richard and I took the kids out to the Arizona-Sonora Desert Museum west of Tucson. It was absolutely beautiful! I told Rich I need to start visting AZ in July so I don't get so homesick--March and April are just too beautiful! These photos are priceless!
After the museum, I went to the hospital and Richard took the kids to swim at the hotel. We met up with my Aunt Marti, my sis Jill, bro Sam and SIL Kristen and Owen at Grandma's house. We ate leftovers for dinner and picked oranges, then went back to the hotel to bed (but Addie went with Aunt Jill to eegee's first and brought me another pina colada :)).
***
DAY SIX: FRIDAY
We planned to get together with Aunt Lisa and Aunt Jill (my sisters) this day at some point, but decided to let Rich have a chance to visit Grandpa first. We knew we had to head home and wanted to find a way for the children to hug Grandpa before we left (since one of the reasons we came was for them to see him alive/coherent/etc. one more time and take photos). Rich went in and visited for a few minutes, then came out and said that the nurses said the kids could come in if they wore masks and hand santizer. So I parked the car and we went in to see Papa (those are the photos I posted below). By the time we got in, Harold and Joni Preston were there, too. It was a wonderful visit--worth the whole trip.
Then we met Lisa for lunch at Panda Express. We took Richard and James out to the Pima Air Museum, then Lisa and I (and her boys) went on a girl trip to the Miniature Museum. We met up again at about 4pm and headed up to Sam's in-laws' house again for a taco party. Cousin Dave Mayberry's family was there, too, and Jill and Lisa joined us. We ate Kristen's delicious food, enjoyed the Dever's gorgeous NW-Tucson-backyard, the kids jumped on the trampoline, swam in the pool, played on the lawn with their cousins, and we savored the AZ weather (blossoms everywhere, orange slossom-scented air!) and family time. While we wre there, Richard adn I decided to leave as early as we could so the ids would sleep part of the way to Utah. So when we got back to the hotel, the kids crashed hard and we cleaned out the car and got all packed up. I cried the whole time. It was soooooo hard to leave knowing how different everything would be next time I came down. Heartaches!!
***
DAY SEVEN: SATURDAY
(Happy Birthday to "big Heidi"--Heidi Egan!!!)
We left Tucson at 4am, stopping in Flagstaff for breakfast at 8am (which was 9am UT & MT time, back on the road an hour later), then--on a whim--stopping for lunch at the south rim of the Grand Canyon. This made a brutal trip even longer, but it was fun to let the kids see something that amazing. We got back on course in Page, AZ at 2pm, Kanab, UTat 3pm, and then the kids finally fell asleep and slept til sundown in Nephi, UT. We grabbed burgers and kept on truckin', arriving at my mom's house around 9pm. (I left my photos on her computer, which is why I haven't posted them yet!).
DAYS 8-9 and photos coming soon...
FAMILY LETTER 07.28.19
Dear Loved Ones, We have just ...