3 vehicles and all not working properly!

So last week my dear husband was feeling okay and went down to Salt Lake to take care of a client's network problems. He called me to tell me that he was on his way back around 1 p.m. So about an hour later he calls and says that he is having problems with the car and to borrow his mom's car and come immediately to follow him home. So I rush out the door and drive down the road looking for him. I find him a lot sooner than anticipated and he gives me the thumbs up, so I turn around and follow him home. He tells me that he stopped in Layton at his friends' warehouse to chat with the guys, but it was too hot in there so he decided to go home. He could not get the car started so had his friend jump start the car, it worked but there was white smoke coming out of the hood and therefore he called me. He got home okay and figured that the car had overheated (as it was 95+ that day outside). The next morning he had me go outside and help him start the car to see what was the problem, car will not turn over at all. Well after doing some internet research he fears that the car engine has ceased. GREAT! We spent the last of our savings instead of replacing the Suburban's engine, since it would be TOO EXPENSIVE to drive with the price of gas now and only 14 miles to the gallon on a good day. Also the license expired and so to be able to legally drive the Suburban we are going to have to at least fix some minor issues with its engine. What to do??

Well John woke me up this morning to help him in the garage. I handed him the proper wrenches and sockets so that he could pull the starter out, and I also turned the key to see if the engine would start. He has deduced that it could be the starter and that is where he should start and try to fix it before having a mechanic do it and charge us so much money (that we do not have right now).

Now on Sunday, I went down to Salt Lake in Mom-in-law's car for a family party and on the way home I was having a lovely conversation with my kids about what they learned in church and so I turned off the radio and turned down the air conditioner. Well as I exited the freeway to come home I heard this horrible grinding sound and knew that the brakes were going bad. Great, the last working car at the house is now sick. So I listened carefully as I drove the 5 minutes to home, a few stop lights and stop signs and sure enough each time I touched the brakes, the same horrible grinding noise, the kids even said that they could "feel it."

Well I told John and he sent me to Checker this morning to get the replacement brake pads. Now it would seem strange to some that I (a female) going into what my son terms as "A BOY STORE" and feel comfortable doing so. The girl behind the counter was impressed that I knew what I needed, I felt good about that. I was raised by a dad that did not have a lot of time to teach me everything but he did teach me the essentials on cars so that I would not be stuck on the road somewhere with a flat tire, etc. I have replaced brake pads, changed oil, filled washer fluid, installed a radio and speakers on my cars before I got married, but it sure is nice to have a husband who knows how to do those things and is WAY BETTER at it than I am.

I guess the next alternative will be to ride bikes everywhere, well at least in the area, WalMart/McDonald's and Wendy's are around the corner so I would survive, hehehe...

How I deal with husband's pancreatitis

I have many people ask me how I can be so positive with my husband being sick, well it is very difficult, but if I am not, I would have to be institutionalized. We have lost count of how many hospital stays he has had in the last 8 years and definitely how many trips to the ER. We are recognizing nurses, doctors, techs, etc., in the ER now, I feel like I should be working there. In fact the first time John was hospitalized for it, he was in the hospital for 11 days and I would stay there all day (and night) with him. I would go down to the grill and one of the workers there keep giving me an employee discount. I think because he saw me every day that he figured I worked there. Hehehe.

Well I have learned so much about the disease but there is so much more to learn. When John had his first attack in 2000 the doctors kept referring to the books (doctors DO NOT KNOW everything!). This is not a common disease, especially in Utah. When he had his 2nd attack and was again hospitalized for another 11 days, we met his primary care physician. He had done his residency in Las Vegas (Alcoholics galore) and so was very familiar with the disease. He has been able to have John stay in the hospital for only a few days instead of weeks (except the last stay in February).

John has had many procedures to check for reasons why and he has baffled the docs a few times. His common bile duct has been scarred over and they have sliced it open, drained out the nasty thick bile that was backing up, he would feel great, and then a week later he would be sick again. There was one time when the doctor had done a sphincterectomy (cutting open the scar tissue) at the common bile duct that he had to stop what he was doing and look at the computer to make sure that he had done the procedure before, because it had completely scarred over. They have put in several stents and even done a few nerve blocks.

He had his last nerve block on July 3 and so far the pain is diminished but he is still getting sick every morning and not being able to function like a normal human being. We were hoping that blocking the pain would take away the nausea but it has not. We will see the doctor in a few weeks and find out what to do now or not.

It gets frustrating but I have learned that there are reasons for trials in our lives and that we need to rely on the Lord and he will get us through this. I know that having this trial it has made me stronger spiritually and I cannot ask for a greater blessing. John and I have said many times that we are glad that it is him sick and not one of the kids. I know many people have to deal with sick children but it would break my heart not to be able to kiss the "booboo" away for them. I am grateful for all of my blessings and thank the Lord every day for them.

SUNDAY MORNING CHAOS

So last night I decided to stay up and watch a movie with John after the kids went to bed. I did and it did not get over until after midnight. So I went to bed...

Now let me explain this next part, we live with my mother-in-law in her 3-bedroom home, so John and I have a room, the kids have a room, and Grandma has a room. So John was hospitalized for 3 weeks back at the end of January and most of February (with 1 week home in between). So since he has been home from the hospital he has his body clock all messed up and sleeps all day due to drugs and is up all night (because of sleeping all day) so I have been sleeping upstairs on the sofa bed with Miko (her bed broke about the same time and we have not been able to replace it yet)...

So I go up and get in bed (already made for Miko before watching movie). As I crawl into bed I realize that I can sleep in since church does not start until 11:00 a.m. Well I am sound alseep, dreaming when...... I am awakened by my mother-in-law laughing so hard she is choking on some food! I immediately sit up to make sure that she is not choking and look at the clock (by the way the TV is on and she is watching a movie) it is 6:30 AM!!!! I wanted to scream, but instead I make sure that she is okay and since I am startled awake my heart is pounding and I cannot in no way go back to sleep, so I sit up and watch the stupid movie that made her laugh so hard.

Next, Caddis comes out of his room at 6:45, saying that the mommy kitty is in their room (because Grandma let her in when she let Lucy (the black lab) out to go potty) and so he woke up Evanslee to take care of the situation. We do not "OWN" the mommy kitty or her baby we named Bullet, but we have adopted them to help with rodent control. Well Caddis is for some reason afraid of the cats and so has to have Big Sister take care of the cat so that he won't be afraid. So because of all of the noise now Miko wakes up and John comes up stairs to see what all the fuss is about. Definitely no way of going back to sleep now. Well we sit and finish watching the dumb movie. Then I decide since I am up I might as well make a nice breakfast for the family instead of just cold cereal. Breakfast goes along smoothly enough.

Then when I decide it is time to get ready for church and get the kids ready, I get the shower started for Evanslee and start getting the little ones dressed, and then get myself ready. Evanslee comes out of the shower and says "mom, how do you put curlers in your hair?" I asked why and she said "I want my hair curled for church!" I just about had a heart attack, my little TOMBOY wants CURLS! YIPEE!!!!! By this time it is about 1/2 hour before we have to be at church (I have to be their 1/2 hour early because I am the Ward Librarian and I need to be there for those that want to get their supplies and copies before church). So I am so excited that we CAN be LATE for church today. Well we do her hair and it looks beautiful. We were only 10 minutes late so not too bad.

The kids and I go to church (daddy and grandma stay home for medical reasons) and Sacrament Meeting was nice, but it was "DRY" Council day and so I had to concentrate on all of the talks so as not to fall asleep, if you know what I mean. Well I do my assignment after the meeting and then I have to go to Wal-Mart to pick up John's anti-nausea medicine, very uneventful. The worst part about that is that the pharmacy was NOT BUSY!!! I want to go every Sunday to pick up prescriptions (but I know it is just the devil tempting me) and not stand in line for like forever and a day. So I go back to church and back into the library for the changing of the classes and more supplies handed out and supplied returned. Then went to Relief Society and actually really enjoyed the lesson.

When we got home the Home teachers showed up shortly after and so we spent time with them and then I had to take Evanslee to her friend's birthday party. I came home, fed the little ones, and put them down for their naps. OHHHH how I wanted to take one, but if I did I would not be awake to pick her up. Now I have spent the rest of the evening playing on the computer, making dinner, and playing on the computer some more, hopefully I will be able to get to bed after 10:00 p.m. and get a good night sleep without interuptions, one can only dream.

What am I doing?

So I have been looking at friends' blogs and thinking what a wonderful idea, but instead I am finding my blondeness coming through. I am not technically smart. I can do my job, because I have been shown the way, and I can even play on the internet and do email but for the life of me setting up this blog is giving me blonde moments.

So let's see if this works:

I am a mom and so being a mom you find the little things that kids do amazing. For example, my youngest child, Miko, has finally been potty trained. Yipee!!! No more messy diapers! I know, boring to those who do not have kids, but a Milestone for me. I thought that being an aunt years ago was the most wonderful thing in the world, but I have to say that it is not as wonderful as being a mom. They are the joy of my life. They are truly blessings and I thank the Lord every day for them.

There was a point in my life where I did not think that I would ever hear a little one call me mom, and now I have 3. It makes my heart sing to hear that simple little word and know that it is me they are referring to.

They amaze me with the differences in personalities, looks, mannerisms, etc. I can just be amazed that what the 2 of us created in those 3 can come out to be so different but yet so alike. I see myself in them and I am truly amazed that I was a part in their creation.

Okay so I think I have this part tackled but now what?