Bryce's Ballgame

Today we went to West Jordan High School to see our grandson Bryce play in a basketball game. He did a great job!

I was busy taking pictures of him playing in the game, him with his Grandpa, his sister Nicole and cousin Lucy (his cheerleaders), etc. Then when we got home, I was excited to put the pictures on my blog. You will never believe what I found when I tried to get the memory card out of the camera--NOTHING!!!!!!!!

Yesterday I had gone to Inkley's to order some prints of older photos. I didn't put the memory card back in the camera after I left the store. CAN YOU BELIEVE DOING ANYTHING THAT STUPID? I still don't understand how the camera takes and records a picture without the memory card being there.

I am blaming my mistake on Old Age. Old Age makes me do all kinds of wacky things: I forget what I am going into a room to get, I leave my purse home and discover it is not with me when I get to my dad's house in Spanish Fork. Sadly, I could go on forever. It is kind of scary how absentminded I am.

Someone told me that losing your glasses and wandering around the house trying to find them (that would be me) does not mean you are getting a form of dementia. It is when you can't remember what your glasses are for that you need to start worrying. I hope that is correct.

Bryce played a super game of basbetball, and we all went out to eat at Iggy's afterward. So we did have a really good time.

Gracie's New Heart

This is a photo of Gracie just before she went into surgery to get her new heart. Isn't she a beauty!

Sadly, the new heart is not working correctly. Gracie is hooked up to a machine called ECMO right now, which will keep her alive for a couple of weeks. In the meantime, she needs to get another opportunity for a donor heart transplant.

Here's hoping she has another chance at life in the very near future!

Heart Transplant for Gracie

My daughter Natalie just called to inform me that sweet Baby Gracie is getting a new heart. We are all just so excited and happy for her and her family! The family found out tonight, and the operation will take place either tonight or tomorrow morning.

To think that Gracie has a new chance at life is thrilling. She has endured endless pain and suffering in her first 11 months of life. This is her big break. I will keep you posted about the operation.

Romeo and Juliet

Today we went to Pioneer Theater to see "Romeo and Juliet". The acting was excellent, and so was the main theme of the play: the damage that can be done through the fueding of two families. Romeo and Juliet died because their two families carried on a hatred of each other that had lasted for generations.

Along with this same idea, we can take the concept further, suggesting that feuding within any society--the fighting factions within Iraq, for example--brings needless death and destruction.

Romeo and Juliet also exemplifies the passion and the impetuousness of young love. I used to teach the play to impressionable ninth graders at Butler Middle School. Before we started, I always pointed out two examples in the play NOT to follow:
(1)Don't marry at a very young age ( Juliet was only 13) after knowing each other a short time. (2)When things don't work out the way you want, don't kill yourselves!

I love the last lines of the play:
"For never was a story of more woe
Than this of Juliet and her Romeo."

Pizza with the Petersons

Natalie, Alan, and the kids joined a tour of the Draper Temple this afternoon and stopped at our house after the tour. (Paul and I live only two blocks from the temple.) We all had fun eating pizza, strawberries, and cookies together.

Another Funny Doctor Story

When I posted my blog about my experience in Dr. Robert's office, my daughter Natalie reminded me of my other "funny" doctor story. So, here it goes.

When Natalie was a teenager, she had an appointment with our dermatologist, Dr. Bradley. (Dr. Bradley was not only our doctor, but he was also our neighbor and a good friend.)

It was a very cold winter morning. I had absentmindedly left the driver-side window of the car down in our garage the night before. Our cat had climbed in the car during the night in an effort to get warm. I shooed him out before we left for our appointment.

Natalie and I arrived at Dr. Bradley's office and had to wait in the waiting room for at least an hour. We were shown into an exam room, and we waited for a short time there. Dr. Bradley soon walked through the door and greeted us by name. Then he looked down at my slacks and said with horror, "What is that on your pants?"

I glanced down at my slacks (seeing for the first time some grainy yellow substance) and proclaimed, "Oh, I am pretty sure that is cat throw-up." I don't think Dr. Bradley knew what to say. My pants were pretty disgusting. He just kind of sat there. I then wondered how many people in the waiting room had observed the gross stuff on my pants. I can only imagine how mortified Natalie was as well.

Natalie is now at least 20 years older, but she still has a vivid memory of the "cat-vomit story".

Small Town Humor

I spent the day in Spanish Fork helping my dad. He had some errands for me to run, so I was out and about the town. When I got to the grocery store/pharmacy, I picked up a few groceries and then went to the pharmacy. As I handed the prescription to the pharmacist, he said, "Oh, Mark called and wondered if you would pick up two half-gallons of vanilla ice cream."

I just started to laugh. I laughed and laughed. I couldn't picture the same senario in Salt Lake City. This incident is such a good example of small-town lore!

My dad does know a huge number of people in Spanish Fork. He has lived there all his life, and he worked for 35 years on Main Street and held many LDS church positions as well. So....he at one time knew almost everyone in the town. Now, in 2009, the town is larger and he does not know everyone, but he does know the pharmacist at Macy's Food Town!

Baby Gracie

This sweet little baby girl has been tugging at my heartstrings for almost a year. Some of you who read this blog know Gracie, but quite a few don't. Gracie was born with only half of a heart. As soon as she was born, surgeons operated on her to make her half-heart work for a limited amount of time. She spent several months in the hospital, and then she got to go home to her family.

At this time, Gracie should have a second operation in a three part series to help her live a funtioning life. She has had problems, however, and doesn't meet the necessary criteria for this operation. So....she is now being evaluated for the possibility of a heart transplant. Yesterday, she had a stroke and is now in Primary Children's Hospital in very serious condition.

My heart goes out to Gracie and her family. They have had so many challenges this past year and have stood strong. Thousands of people have followed Gracie's blog, and many concerned friends have provided food, babysitting (for the three other children), housecleaning, etc. It has been amazing to me to watch the flood of support Gracie's family has received.

Gracie's mom (Michelle) has been best friends with my daughter Natalie since they were in 2nd grade. Gracie's Grandma Connie Mayer has been my good friend for over 30years. We helped each other get through our terrible divorces, and we still keep in touch and get together occasionally (now with our second husbands). Even our ex-husbands are friends!

As you can see, I have a strong bond with Gracie's loved ones, and I can see that this latest trial with Gracie has made their family closer and resolute in the face of adversity. We never do know what trials are waiting around the corner for us. Gracie and her family have certainly been an inspiration to me.

Happy Valentine's Day

My husband is very thoughtful. He not only remembers special occasions, but he also puts careful thought into cards or gifts. He is exceptional in this way. The necklace in the photo was purchased in St. George a few weeks ago. He saw it and wanted me to have it for Valentine's Day.

Paul also made yummy whole-wheat pancakes with fresh blueberries for breakfast this morning. He is the main breakfast-maker, with a variety of menus including waffles, pancakes, or oatmeal.

I am one lucky wife!

A Visit With Dr. Roberts

Today I visited my internist, Dr. Roberts. I have been a patient of Dr. Roberts for nearly 30 years. He knows me well.

The challenge today was to get my blood pressure down. He, of course, took my blood pressure. He listened to my heart and felt my hands and ankles. An adjustment of my medication hopefully will do the trick, and I will be fine.

He said something kind of funny to me today. After checking me over, he declared, "At least you don't look bad." I said, "Well, for a 63 year-old-lady, I will take that as a compliment."

Over Dr. Robert's many years of practice, the two of us have had a good rapport. He has told me that a particularly unique exam of mine in his office (which happened about 20 years ago) is at the top of his "favorite story" list. He reminded me of the story today and of its prestige on his list. The story goes like this: I was in for an exam, and Dr. Roberts was checking out my neck. He stopped and said, "Oh, dear, what is this?" I replied, "What do you mean?" He then stated, "There is a lump on your thyroid. It's quite big. Did you happen to have X-ray treatments as an adolescent for acne? They have been proven to cause cancer in later life." I affirmed, "Yes, I did." He looked at me and explained, "Well, this probably isn't a very good thing."

I sat there for a few seconds, and the next thing I knew I was lying on an exam table with a number of people staring down at me. I asked what had happened. This is it. After hearing the upsetting thyroid news, I had passed out. Dr. Roberts had been sitting on a chair across from me at the time, writing notes about my condition (I was sitting on the exam table). As he looked up, I started free-falling toward him. He could see that I was going to hit my head on an edge of a countertop, so he reached out to grab me. So, here I was, mostly naked (remember those paper exam gowns with the backs open?), lying on top of Dr. Roberts. He cried for help, and another doctor opened the door, and without cracking a smile, said to him, "Oh, Phil, is this a new exam technique?" They both thought this was hilarious; and actually, after a few years, so did I.

It turns out that the lump on my thyroid was benign, although I had to have an operation to cut it out. So, you see what I mean when I say that Dr. Roberts knows me well!

An Update - An Encounter With a Cow

It has been nearly two weeks since my father had his accident. He has been to see the orthopedic doctor, and the doctor thinks that surgery is unnecessary. It will take approximately eight weeks for the bone to heal, and then Dad will need physical therapy after that.

Dad is trying to adapt his life to his new challenges. He can walk with the aid of a walker, and he has help from a home-healthcare service for his personal needs. Meals-on-Wheels comes once a day Monday through Friday. The bathroom has been equiped with grabbars for his safety.

Dad is cheerful and upbeat. He says that the accident could have proven a lot worse. He is still whistling (note: Dad has always shown his joy in life by whistling).

In times of need, people often show their true colors. This is so true of my brother Kent and his wife Barbara. Kent has transported and sold every remaining cow on Dad's farm. He has stayed with Dad and when he couldn't be there because of work, he has called on a daily basis. Barbara has been phenomenal. She has spent numerous days with Dad, cleaning and organizing cupboards, closets, and entire rooms. She has brought food and done errands as well. I cannot say enough about the support she has shown in Dad's time of need.

Grandchildren have called, come to visit and brought food. Neighbors and church friends have also brought food and visited. We appreciate all this help so much.

We cross our fingers that Dad will totally recuperate and return to his normally active life. He is in better shape than many 60-year-olds (says the orthopedic doctor). He has a lot of living yet to do!

Granddaughter Lucy Long

This is a recent school picture Lucy gave us. She is really looking like a teenager, but she will not be thirteen until September. She is in her last year of elementary school.

Lucy likes acting in plays. She has been enrolled for several past summers in drama workshops at the Hale Theater. It has given her good experience in performing before a group while acting, singing, and dancing. Lucy is also an excellent student. Additionally, she knows a lot about the environment and how to keep our world a safer and healthier place.

We love our granddaughter Lucy and enjoy seeing her succeed in all her endeavors. When she sets out to do something, she does her very best!

Nicole and Bryce - The Ferguson Grandchildren

Catherine, Russell, Bryce and Nicole came to see us Sunday afternoon. They brought school pictures to give us and also a photo of Bryce in his basketball uniform. Sweet Nicole made a special valentine for us as well.

Bryce and Nicole are growing and changing all the time. Bryce is very tall for an eighth grader and also has a deep voice. His excellent grades on his report card show his ability and hard work in academics. He is playing forward and sometimes center on two different basketball teams. We will catch one of his games at the end of this month.

Nicole is now in fifth grade and is still taking dancing lessons. She practices at the dancing studio three times a week. Nicole is very conscientious with her dancing and also has a great deal of talent. When we see her at her dance recitals, she is always the very best dancer in her group. (I am not just being a bragging grandma. Others who don't know her agree as well.) She really feels the mood of the music and her dancing is reflected in her face as well as her body.

We are proud of Nicole and Bryce. They are respectful and polite, and that is always refreshing to see in children and teenagers. We love them very much.

The Peterson Grandkids

I have taken these photos from Natalie's Facebook album. The pictures help me to follow all of the kids' activities.

The first photo is of 13-year-old Jake practicing for his swim team. (He is the diver in the middle.) He practices several times a week and then participates in swim meets once a month. His best stroke is (last time I asked) his front crawl.

The next photo shows Megan after a face-painting birthday party. Wow! That looks like a neat party. What six-year-old girl doesn't want to look like a princess?

In the bottom photo, 10-year-old Derek (the one with the glasses) is participating in a school geography bee. One of the questions asked of him was to name the body of water surrounding the countries of Turkey, Greece, Italy, France, Spain, etc. He knew the anwer (the Mediterranean Sea) because we had talked to him about the Mediterranean Cruise we took in November.

Natalie keeps busy trying to take the kids to all of their activities. She will be glad when Jake is old enough to drive himself to his swim practices. I think he might be kind of happy about driving as well!

An Encounter With A Cow

Friday afternoon my brother Kent called to let me know that my dad had an accident. Dad, Kent, and Mark (grandson) were trying to load some cows into Kent's horse trailer. Dad has been working toward getting out of the "cow business" this year. He sold a bunch of them to Kent, and while helping load them he encountered one mean cow. The cow kicked Dad hard, and he went flying into the air.

The result was a cracked bone for Dad. (I don't know the name of the bone, but it is in the approximate area of where he would carry his wallet.) He went to the emergency room at Payson Hospital and is now at his home trying to recuperate. A walker gets him from room to room, and elevated surfaces on his bed and chairs help him move from one area to the next.

Dad is in good spirits and is doing a little better each day. An orthopedic doctor will look at him next Monday and hopefully give us some guidelines to help him recuperate. (Yes, that appointment was the earliest we could get!)

I am thankful that the accident wasn't any worse, and Dad should make a full recovery. He told us, "I thought I was smarter than a cow, but I was proved wrong."