CHANGES

Sometimes life gives you changes to help you grow. My dad always told me that if it didn't kill you, you would grow from change and adversity. Quite frankly....I am tired of growing. I'm not complaining... Just want to put that out there for everyone to know.
So just to recap and bring my blog up to date. Here Goes.


Over a year ago we moved from our home of 26 years. Into a rental home that we loved. Of course we got all settled and we were informed that the owners were going to short sell it, and we would have to move. My hope was that at least we could get Brittany's wedding over with the first of April. Sure enough my wish was granted. Our baby was married in the Arizona Temple to Brady Garrett on April 9,2010. It was so neat to be able to go with her to the Temple and for the first time have all my children in there with us.

We got our 30 day notice the first of April, just before the wedding. So we got the wedding over with and then we started packing. Again. And getting rid of more stuff. We could not find an appropriate place to rent, so we moved in with my Mom (bless her). We have been looking but the prices have gone so high, they are almost out of reach.

It may have been a good thing for us that we have not moved out, as Bill is currently in the hospital just having under gone emergency surgery for a perferated bowel. It was kind of a relief to finally find out what has been bothering him for several weeks. He has tried to work through everything and not felt really good for a while. He is now out of ICU and in a room on the Renal Floor. He is not in any pain from the bowel problem, but is now suffering from a flair up of GOUT in his right knee. They have removed the tube from his stomach, and he removed the main line that was in his neck. The night nurse said he was very repentant and he didn't know what he was doing at the time, but he bled like a stuck pig everywhere until she finally got it under control. All he could do was lay there and tell her how sorry he was. When I got in this morning he was sitting up in a chair and said he had been since 6 am. When I inquired if he would like to get back into bed I got the GRUMPY answer of "HELL NO," it took me to long to get here to want to go back. OK....all I did was ask. Then I made the mistake of asking him if he would like something for pain and was informed that they had nothing that they could give him for the pain. The next time the nurse came in I asked her about it, and was informed that she was giving him morphine every 2 to 2-1/2 hours. She said we are keeping him comfortable.

He is progressing well and making good progress. Thank you all for all your good thought and prayers. For me the nice thing is that they have free internet at the hospital, since we don't have it at my Moms. If you call that a good thing.

I am very grateful to our Bishop Tenny who came on Wednesday and helped him renue his Temple Recommend and then took it back to get it signed for him. He has worried about it, but never felt really well enough to go out to get it done in the past few weeks. It relieved some of his anxiety.

Again thank you to all who have called and inquired to me or to a member of our family. We appreciate it and know that you prayers are heard.

There is lots more to tell about what has gone on in the las 6 months, but this will have to do for now.

HAPPY NEW YEAR TO ALL

We celebrated the new year at the Johnson's house again. I came to stay for the weekend with Stacy and spoil that new grandson Derek, who arrived on the 26th of December. Stacy and Ben and the older kids were at a party that Vance's band was playing at. Ben chaperoned the party and Stacy went over to hear the band play at 11. I was home with baby Derek and Anny their 18mo. old and the neighbors 7 year old, Dodge. Anny was playing in her cupboard, I was folding clothes, Bill was up in bed, and Dodge was trying his hardest to stay awake when the clock struck 12. Big Whop!!

We hope the new year finds everyone HEALTHY AND HAPPY. Last year was full of change for us in so many ways, but we realize that we have grown and done things that were hard for us at the time, but we are still alive and kicking. Bill is doing well, so far, and is holding his own, which we are very grateful for.

We have been very blessed to have so many friends and family around who love and care for us. We know that each day is a blessing in our life, and we are so grateful for the many blessings which we enjoy.

So I've Been A Little Busy The Last Little While....

Brittany started Nursing School in October...Yea...and moved into a apartment closer to work and school...not so fun for us...cuz it is very lonely around here without her around. So she organized our Annual Girls Night out before she started school. We turned it into a "Surprise" baby shower for Susan and Candice. Susan had her beautiful baby girl...Samantha...on Conference Sunday, so that Scott her husband would be here. He is being deployed again to the middle east. We surprised her but someone let Candice in on the surprise...Oh Well. We were to pick up 2-5foot subs for the dinner, but when we went to pick them up they thought they were for the next night. So they hurried and fixed up some foot longs and cut them in thirds and placed them on a platter. We were only 30 minutes late to the party.

We had food, presents for the babies and moms, Dancing contests, pedicures, music, and lots of talking...that you never get enough of.

Well here it is November and were getting ready for "COOL" weather. Why are our highs still in the 90's? Someone once told me that when you get older life gets simpler. I am still waiting and hoping that someday everything will settle down but it doesn't look like that will happen anytime soon. So lets get caught up

Even Jason and Annie got a little playing time in, during the football game

Here's our cute cheerleaders Merrek, Katy, and Tawny.Here

Here our story changes to Grandpa /Dad /Bill entering the hospital...again. This time for more of the same story about his kidneys shutting down again, and his body collecting to much water inside that the kidneys were working to hard to function and so they began to shut down. After 4 days they finally changed some of his medications and they seem to be helping.

We were thinking that all was well, except the cardiologist informed him that one of the leads on his defibrillator was coming out, and it needed to be fixed right away so it doesn't start shocking him out of the blue. Aren't we grateful for Doctors and Nurses who are there to help.

In between Hospital visits for Bill, Candice and Matt went in and had Baby Ellee Delivered by a scheduled C-section. She is beautiful. Looks so much like Candice did as a baby, but has the Angle Chin. I was so glad that I could stay with them and help out, although I sometimes felt like i didn't do much. We are so glad she is here and mom is doing much better.
Of Course Tristan has stepped in and taken his role as a big brother seriously, he loves to hold her and kiss her and inspect her hands and feet.

So after all this had died down, we had to but Bill back into the hospital to have a lead from his defibrillator changed out. They could not remove the wire so they just put in another one. He came out of Surgery and made quite a spectacle of him self with the nurses, even ate a good dinner about 9 pm and then said he was tired and fell asleep. The next day he had no memory of anything that he had said or eaten the entire night. It was a real eye opener for Brittany who had never seen him behave in quite that manner.

Last but not least we went out to Queen Creek for the ward Trunk -r -Treat and got to see all our grandchildren and their friends in costume and enjoy the Chile cook off. Saturday we went and visited with my mom who was babysitting for Ellee, while they went to their ward carnival. Candice and Matt came over and brought Tristan for a few minutes. After mom's we wnt to the Rudds and visited with them and their kids for a while. We enjoy being around all of them. Can't believe the Chelsea is getting married, and Michael will be leavin on a mission in February. Guess other people kids grow up also.

It has been a very trying time in so many ways and we are so grateful for the many many friends and family members that we have had around us at all times. Their faith and prayers in our behalf have certainly been a big help in our life. We love you all.

Next Sunday I give my lesson in Relief Society and then we go out to QC for Tylers Blessing. Guess our activities are gaining on us again.

GRANDMA IS HOME FROM QUEEN CREEK

FROM THIS

TO THIS

IN ONE WEEK

This is the newest addition to the Jensen Family - isn't he a cutie. He is a good baby, although he is having a hard time learning how to eat enough at one feeding without having to have a nap in the middle of his meal. Everything works on him, especially when he gets his diaper changed. He has already learned to sleep well, especially during the day, and not so well at night. He has the ability to sleep while all around him is utter chaos. He is so lucky to have 5 older siblings who for now can't seem to get enough of holding him and patting his head. He is well loved.

They have another new addition to their family also. A new 12 passenger van, so that they have a car that the entire family will fit in. So after being a one car family for so many years, they are back to the 2 car routine. Congratulations to all of them. I spent a week with them and they are all learning to adapt to a new baby in the family. I had a great time and enjoyed my time with them. Life is good ....and being a GRANDMA is especially sweet when you have children and grandchildren as sweet as all mine.

OUR NEWEST GRANDSON IS HERE!!

OK....So I lied about updating....I've been busy.

But I did want to announce that Allison and Joe Jensen are the proud parents of a 7 lb 4Oz little boy who will be known as TYLER DON JENSEN. He arrived on Tuesday August 18,2009, at 1:47pm. He is 2 and 1/2 weeks early. He is a cutie pie, who looks just like a Jensen boy. Of course I would love to post a picture of him but my camera is on the fritz, Brittany doesn't have one, and Joe and Allison took off so fast they forgot to take there's. Stacy saved the day and brought her's so as soon as she posts some I will get them here.

Please keep Tyler and his parents in your prayers...as he is experiencing some problems with his lungs and his breathing. He looks good just is 2 weeks early and his lungs are not able to keep themselves inflated. So for right now he is in the PICU at Banner Gateway, getting the help that he needs and seems to be doing fine. Mother is resting well and dad....after coming off work at 4am he didn't get to sleep till after 8 tonight...he was very sound when we returned from the nursery at 8:30. Hopefully they will get a good night sleep and feel better in then morning.

Small update....I have not vanished.

Hello all.....I know it has been a long time since I wrote anything but you know....sometimes life gets in the way. I have been busy working full time, and some of it is till 8-9 at night. By the time I get home, fix something (usually not a full meal) and straiten things up it is time for bed, or at least time to "go" to bed. So I hope to get some in depth coverage soon. Yesterday we got home from our Whetten Family Camp out, and we got a message from my sister-in-law in Nevada that our other Sister-in-Law was coming to stay for a week for a wedding. She was coming here with a Brother-in-Law and Niece who went up for a funeral for our 18 year old Niece. See I told you Life gets in the way! So I took the day off today. But I shall post soon.

A BIG shout out to my wonderful family for making our family comport an outstanding success. It was so fum to sit and watch the interaction between all my children, spouses, and grandchildren for 4 days with only minimal discord between some of the little ones. THANK YOU. I love you all so much.

FIELD TRIP WITH MERREK AND TAWNY

Today was a fun day for all....the girls....Merrek and Tawny got to take their first bus ride from their grade school to the Superstition Farm Dairy that is my neighbor. I was excited because I pass the dairy everyday and have wondered what it was like. So now we all know a little more about what goes on down the street from Grandma's house.

The kids were divided up into 4 groups and had different areas to visit. The most popular was the petting area, and the feeding area. They got to feed the goats and the horses, then they got to hold a chicken and pet a rooster and a rabbit. Next we went to the horse area where the;y learned how to groom a horse and put a saddle on it. They got to see the horse's teeth up close and then feed him bites of carrots. We learned you have to hold your hand like a pancake (very flat) so he doesn't think that your fingers are carrots.

Merrek and the chicken

Tawny and the other chicken

Then we had lunch all together under the shade. On of the most popular attractions was the j-johns, and the hand washing area.

My favorite Kindergarteners on the tractor.

After lunch we all got to sample the ice cream that only hours before was milk from their very own cows. It was a very fun day and also very educational for everyone. I'm sure the adults learned much more that the kids did.

Isn't it fun to live near a farn.....reminds me of 30 years ago when their was a dairy next to Mountain View. (Except for the FLIES.)