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Anastaya's 14th birthday
On Thursday, Anastaya celebrated her 14th birthday.  Dode took her out for dinner at her favorite restaurant, Cafe Neo, for gyros because I wasn't up to cooking yet.  They stopped at Haggen on the way home for her to pick out a birthday cake, white chocolate raspberry.  For her gifts, it was an avalanche of zebra print.  She received a bed in a bag set, a duffel bag, a lunch bag, and a coin purse.  For a bit of variety, we also got her some Eeyore socks!

Sunday she got her official birthday meal of chicken gyros and white chocolate raspberry cheesecake.  I told her she's learning how to be the mom in the family because she had to do the lion's share of the food preparation for her meal.

We worked together to make the cheesecake.  Anasastaya at the mixer, me at the stove and stirring something in my lap.  Ignore the messy kitchen counter!  (I love our matching shirts!)

While Anastaya rolled out the bread for the pitas, Miriam had fun in some extra flour with her Disney figures.  (Notice the dusting of flour across her face?)

Anastaya found this cute hair style (a braid on each side ending in a messy side bun) on Pinterest.  She made the flower hair clip at a birthday party.  Happy birthday beautiful girl.

Ready to enjoy her self made cheesecake

Some of Anastaya's birthday gifts.  Grandma Sharon gave her the off white zebra body pillow.  She got a movie gift card from my dad.  My mom came on Sunday and gave her more zebra stuff (not pictured): zebra sleep shirt, bank, and beanie baby.  She also got some knit ankle boots she's been hankering after.

Produce Snafu
Each day my foot is incrementally better which means each day I seem to push how much I'm up to doing a little more.  By the time we went to bed on Friday, I was hurting pretty badly and all I could think of was getting my foot up in the air and taking a pain pill.  I'd made sure everything was ready for produce in the morning and had found a substitute to be in charge outside.  I'd forgotten one important thing, checking to make sure the cordless phone was on the base next to the bed.

Instead of waking up to the produce truck driver phoning that he was at the bottom of the driveway, I woke to the sound of volunteers showing up!  Oops!  I was able to get ahold of the driver and he came by at the end of the route but that put pick up time 1 1/2 hours late.  The driver showed up at 8:15, half way through our normal pick up time.  Cars were everywhere with absolute chaos as people tried to help transfer produce boxes from the produce truck to our trailer at the end of our driveway.  We found out later that Isaac, who had gotten up early to help Dode get the produce off the produce truck, had heard the phone ringing at least three separate times but he thought we were upstairs picking it up.  If he'd picked up the phone, the whole crisis would have been adverted.  Classic experience when you're dealing with kids!

The distribution of produce went smoothly and everyone managed to adjust their schedule to pick up at the new time.  I was inside with my foot up so I don't know how much grumbling there was.  The one bad thing that happened was that some of the bulk items people (me included) had ordered had been set aside up against the house.  When I limped out to get my things, people had thought the items were out there for swapping and accidentally taken everything.  I tried a Facebook plea to ask people to return the items but they've disappeared.  Big bummer!

Elizabeth's tooth
Friday night Elizabeth came to me complaining that she wouldn't be able to eat dinner because her tooth was so loose.  When I had her wiggle it for me, I saw that all that was holding it on was a tiny piece of pulp in the middle.  Dode managed to convince her to let him cut it out with a pair of scissors.  After talking a very nervous girl through each step, she never even felt it when he made the final cut!

The tooth while it was still attached. 

Can you see the little peace of skin still holding it?

Elizabeth's sewing project
Elizabeth went to a friend's birthday party at a swimming pool and wanted to give her a swimsuit cover up like I've made for all my girls.  It's so easy to do, I helped her make it herself.  She was very proud of the finished product and her friend was thrilled.  She's now on the lookout for a towel to make a new cover up for herself.  Unfortunately, January is not the best time of year for finding beach towels!

Dangers of Surveying: Dogs

One of the dangers of walking around in people's yards that Dode has never enjoyed is meeting up with their dogs.  There have been times when he's run with all that's in him to get away from dogs.  There have been times when he's resorted to throwing stale pastries to distract dogs so his coworker could escape.  While the experiences sounded funny as he told me about them, at the time he was pretty worried about his safety.  Friday was not Dode's day when it came to dealing with dogs.  It started while he was walking down a road looking for water meters.  A friendly dog came out to play and started running around Dode.  Soon, a dog that looked like his twin showed up.  They had a grand old time, chasing each other up and down the road and pretending to bite each other's faces.  Around and around they went.  The next thing Dode knew, two dogs barreled into the back of his knees, buckling both of them and about collapsed him to the ground.  They were having so much fun playing, they hadn't paid any attention to where they were going.  

Later he was looking for a water meter in some one's back yard.  An old black lab came up to be his friend.  When the owner came out, Dode remarked, "You sure have a friendly dog."  The owner replied, "Well, the last time someone tried to cross our yard in the middle of the night, he ended up with 37 stitches."  Good thing the dog was having a good day!  

Lastly, Dode met up with a dog while looking for yet another water meter.  This one was behind a fence.  The fence was too tall to look over but there was a lower area at the gate.  As he peered over the gate, an old greyed dog started barking at him.  Dode figured the dog was giving a friendly "hello" and kept looking around for the meter.  He had his hand resting on a fence post as he leaned over to look.  The next thing he knew, POW!  The dog had jumped up and nailed his hand with his fangs.  Luckily, Dode was wearing a thick leather glove because the dog bit down hard enough to break the skin through the glove.  He felt pretty silly that the dog had been barking away at him, warning him to get lost, and he hadn't even thought to move his hand to safety.  Dode was doubly glad that it wasn't worse.  First, he didn't want to deal with a dog bite.  Secondly, Dode's boss is always very conscious of his safety.  He isn't allowed to go out and do field work by himself.  He isn't allowed to go out in bad weather.  He knew if he went back to work with a hand torn open by a dog, she'd be even more hesitant to let him out in the field again in the future.

My foot is better each day
Thankfully, every day is better with my foot.  I was even up to going grocery shopping on Saturday.  Dode drove me over to Haggen (our next door neighbor!) and once we got there, he told me I needed to ride in one of those battery operated carts.  We went in separate doors, with me telling him I was just fine and I'd meet him at the bottled water.  Pretty soon here he came, driving a lovely cart.  He told me he was either going to see me in it or he'd follow me around the store with me limping and him driving.  I got in, put my foot up in the basket, and felt like a big dork.  I also realized that those things go so slow!

Dode and I had a man/woman communication problem this week.  We were sitting on the couch together.  I started wiggling my foot a lot.  It's something I do when I'm hurting to distract me.  Dode knows it's one of my pain clues and asked, "Time for a pain pill?"  My response, "Yes".  He was reading a book and I watched as he finished the page and went on the the next section.  I figured he was getting to a good stopping point before getting me the medication.  He figured I was waiting until enough time had elapsed before taking a pill.  After waiting even longer, I got frustrated and thought, "Fine, I'll get it myself!"  When I got off the couch to get it, he wanted to know where I was going.  I told him, if he wasn't going to get it for me, I'd get it myself.  He said, "If you told me you wanted it, I would have gotten it for you."  In my mind, I had told him.  He followed me all the way upstairs to our room where my pills were insisting that he'd get it for me but he'd got my stubborn up and I was determined to get it myself.  We've been married quite a while but those male/female communication problems still come up from time to time.

Still on the Mend

Well, I'm a week post-op and I'm still working on walking like a normal person.  For some reason, I thought once the magical week was up, I'd be back to my usual routine with just some slight discomfort.  Not!

I have made progress.  One week post op, I no longer have to crawl up the stairs and slide down them, I can limp!  That feels like a big deal to me!   I stayed home from church on Sunday because I didn't think it would work to have my foot propped up high enough to not hurt while modestly wearing a dress.  When Miriam heard I wasn't going to church, she generously said, "Do you think you'll need someone to stay home and take care of you?"  Nice try Miriam!  (She went to church.)
I've discovered that while my foot hurts something crazy if it's down by the floor for any length of time, putting my leg on the counter like a ballerina stretching at the ballet bar allows me to do things in the kitchen without too much pain.   Important things like making smoothies, doing dishes, cooking.  It absolutely drives me nuts to walk into the kitchen and see every surface covered with things and dishes.  I tried to hang out in the living room where I can't see the kitchen as much as possible.  But, each time I went into the kitchen, Yikes!  Putting my leg up on the counter let me get the dishes washed and the counter cleaned. 

Why am I cooking?  Let me start by saying I'm so thankful that Dode is willing to make food for me.  I eat very differently from him and most of the things I eat he doesn't even consider edible.  The first time he made me my hot cereal for breakfast, he had a hard time locating all the ingredients (hot cereal and walnuts in jars in the freezer, cinnamon in the cupboard, bananas on the counter, pears on the microwave in a bowl, dates (which he didn't even know what they looked like) in the fruit drawer, rice milk in the fridge.  He carefully sliced and diced everything just right and finally presented me with my breakfast, which had gone cold a while ago.  I can whip the same meal up in less than five minutes because I've done it so many times.  It's so much easier for me to do it myself that I feel bad to have him do it.  With a foot up on the counter and a somewhat willing helper, I can get it done a lot quicker. 

The first time the kids saw me with my leg stretched out along the counter, they were pretty impressed with my flexibility.   Miriam told me I looked like a ballerina.  The big problem with the leg on the counter solution is that I'm pretty much stuck in one place.  I've tried using a child to fetch things for me but it's an exercise in patience on both ends.  They can't find things right in front of them and I know I could quickly grab it in half a second.

I decided I was healed enough to make dinner Monday night.  We usually have dinner on the table within 10 minutes of Dode getting home from work.   I decided it was time to get back to the routine while Dode was at work (his first day back since my surgery).  I felt bad to think he'd be getting home from work and have to get right to making us a dinner.  I knew I could help out and make an easy meal.  My foot up trick worked but soon I realized that although I can stand and cook with my foot propped up, assembling the various ingredients requires a lot of walking around.  By the time I'd made dinner and we'd eaten, my foot was aching and I was sitting on the couch, foot in the air, hugging myself tightly while waiting for the pain killer to start working.  Do you think Dode was pleased that his loving wife made him a great dinner?  Nope!  He said, "My first day back at work and already you can't behave yourself."  I've already assigned the rest of the week's dinners out to the kids.

I was going to ask one of the boys to take my photo Monday night while I was cooking but I haven't had a shower/bath in five days and I'd just looked at myself in the bathroom mirror and noticed that I'd been wearing my v-neck t-shirt backwards all day.  No wonder it wasn't fitting right!  Must be the pain pills that are making me a bit loopy. 

I sure walk like a drunken sailor.  My left foot is in a fancy foam shoe with a 2" heel.  I walk with just the heel touching.  My right foot is bare.  In order to have a somewhat even gait, I have to walk on my left heel and right front toes.  It doesn't take much for me to loose my balance and teeter a bit before regaining it.  The worst part about being up and having my foot start to hurt is that walking becomes more and more painful.  There have been quite a few times when I've resorted to getting around by jumping on my right foot just to keep my left foot from touching!  By the time I'm healed I'm going to have buns of steel on the right side and be able to kick high like a Rockette on the left!

I'll be happy when getting clean is as simple as stepping into a shower.  Currently I have to take a bath and it takes Dode's help to pivot myself in and out of the tub while keeping my foot high and dry.  Quite a production and puts us both out of commission in the bathroom, leaving William to ransack the house and fight with the kids.

Doing the dishes

dressed up (a blouse for the 1st time in a week!)

and ready to head to the doctor's office

I had my one week post-op visit on Tuesday.  Sharon was nice enough to drive me there since I'm still on pain killers and I'm not sure that I could drive very well with my foot sticking out the window to keep it elevated!  I felt like such a big baby.  The point of the visit was to change the bandage and let the doctor get a look at how it's healing.  Before unwrapping my foot, the nurse told me to tell her if I started feeling funny and she'd tip me back in the chair.  She unwrapped the many layers of bandage, me nervous the entire time that it would hurt and we'd get to a layer where the scab was stuck to the gauze.  She made it down to my skin just fine and left to get the doctor.  I  looked at my foot, bruised all over, swollen, with a nice scar with lovely black stitches along it and my tummy started going sideways and I started sweating like crazy.  I was ready to have that chair tipped back!  I grabbed a magazine from the magazine rack and began frantically fanning myself while willing myself to calm down and relax.  Intellectually I felt like an idiot because nothing was really hurting but my body way freaking out and I had no way to stop it.  The doctor came in to examine my foot.  By then my face had gone all tingly and I was sure my lips had lost all their color.  He told me everything looked great and let the nurse bandage me back up.  I stopped in the bathroom on my way back to the waiting room, took a bunch of deep breaths and splashed my face with water.  I sure hope I can handle myself better next week, when the stitches come out.

Sheri came over this morning to pick up a reluctant Miriam and take her for school.  She'd been claiming she didn't feel good when it was time to get ready for school but after a while I could tell that there was nothing wrong with her.  Sheri said it sure brought back memories of when I was on bedrest with Isaac when she walked in to the living room and saw me on the couch with eveything arranged around me (books, computer, food ,blanket).  At least I know I won't be using my cozy nest as long this time.  (I was on bedrest with Isaac for months!)
One week out and still a ways to go.  I hate all the hassle of healing but I had gotten to the point where I had to do something. I'm sure looking forward to getting back to exercising and running pain free (at least foot pain free!).

Snow Days

Finally some snow!

They've been telling us since September that a very strong La Nina weather pattern was building in the Pacific.  Typically, La Nina years bring lots of snow.  Our December was warmer and dryer than normal and it looked like La Nina wasn't panning out.  Being a weather man around here has got to be a tough job.  We have to have just the right conditions of cold arctic air getting trapped under wet tropical air in order to get snow.  And, snow that blankets the Pacific Northwest is even harder to come by.  We usually end up with convergence zones where an area will get snow while the surrounding areas get rain or even are dry.

All last week, the forecasters started saying snow for the weekend.  As we got closer to the date it was looking more and more like some lucky people would get snow and the rest of us would miss out.  That's how it played out.  On Sunday, Marysville (10 miles to our south) got 4", LaConner (15 miles to the north) got 4", farther south and north they got up to 7".  Arlington got nothing.  The kids were so disappointed!  So was Dode, who wouldn't have minded if they canceled church on his day to teach the lesson in our primary class!

Dode and Isaac had planned to replace part of the garage roof on Saturday. When the weather report called for snow, and our 4:40 am wake up call courtesy of the produce truck revealed a dusting of snow with more coming down, they decided to take the newly rebuilt Trail 90's to an ORV park. They left to play early in the morning and it stopped snowing.  They could have easily done the roof!  Still in the truck on Monday morning, they got a good dusting of snow.

While riding at Walker Valley,  Isaac and Dode were admiring someone's jacked up and fancied up 4 wheel drive truck.  That owner in turn was admiring the 90's.  I don't think there are many people who can see them and not wax nostalgic about a grandfather or uncle who had a trail 90 in the garage.  Isaac was quite proud to show off the results of their hard work.

We went to bed Sunday night to green grass and woke up Monday to 1 1/2" of snow.  Not enough to sled down a hill on but plenty to get towed on sleds behind the lawn mower on.  It was already a day off from school (Martin Luther King Jr. day) and the kids were soon enjoying the snow.  It didn't take long before there were piles of melting snow making puddles all over inside our house.  Dode took a retired old wagon and screwed an old pair of skis onto the wheels.  The boys enjoyed dragging that behind the mower.

Isaac had some excitement in the kitchen Monday morning. As I was reading my email on the computer (my back to Isaac) and Dode was reading the newspaper (facing Isaac) we heard a calm, "I think I need a fire extinguisher over here." I thought he was joking around and kept reading. A second time I heard, "I think I need a fire extinguisher over here." I turn around to ask, "Are you serious?" "Yes!" Dode's article must have been pretty interesting because he never noticed a thing. Isaac had accidentally turned on a burner that a plate was resting on. The heat cracked the plate and the paper towel on the plate caught fire. I grabbed the fire extinguisher but it was a small enough fire that a good dump of baking soda put out the fire quickly.

Dode took the kids to Absolute Air park Monday morning. It's an indoor trampoline place where the kids can jump like crazy. I stayed behind because trampolines aren't compatible with my sore foot. He thought maybe once they'd gone, the kids would "get it out of their system" and not enjoy it so much. Not a chance! As soon as they got in the car to come home, they were already begging to attend again.  I took advantage of my time alone to get in as much exercise as I could, two hours on the elliptical.  I knew once I had surgery, it would be a long time until I'd get back to it.  I figured I was already going to be exhausted from the medicines on Tuesday, I might as well have tired muscles too!
 

There are a serious of trampolines on the floors and walls.

The kids loved launching themselves into the large foam pit.

I've had my fingers crossed for snow because if the public schools close, Dode gets a snow day too (and unlike the kids, he doesn't have to make his up at the end of the year!) Now that it was finally becoming a reality, I was watching the forecast closely and worrying. With my surgery scheduled for Tuesday morning, my goal was to be able to get there and get home. Then the snow could come down as much as it wanted. That ended up being what happened. We drove in snow down to Everett and it snowed the entire time we were there but we didn't have any problems getting there and back.  I'd made arrangements ahead of time for people to pick up Elizabeth, stay with her at school, and bring her home.  Isaac can get himself to school and back on his skateboard.  With snow cancelling school, Sharon came over and stayed with the kids while Dode and I were gone to the surgery center.  She offered to make dinner for us.  Since Dode was in charge of the meal that night (everyone is pitching in with dinners while I recover from my surgery), he thought that sounded like a perfect plan.  She made every one's favorite, her fried chicken, mashed potatoes and gravy, fruit salad, and pumpkin chocolate chip cookies.  The kids much preferred that over what Dode would have made (either breakfast or "every man for himself".)

Isaac Colson called after we'd been home for a while on Tuesday to see if he could come over.  Since I was pretty much out of commission, Dode got the final say.  What's one more child?  When Isaac's parents dropped him off, Kim wanted to know if there was anything she could do for us.  She has been a hair dresser for years.  I said, "Yes" and she straitened up my messy self cut bangs and gave William an impromptu hair cut.  We didn't have a cape so she improvised with an empty toilet paper bag.

Elizabeth's snow hair style

Miriam got her feelings hurt and decided to play in the snow inside where she could be warmer.  At her back is the wood stove with the fan blowing warm air her way.  In front of her, a pan of snow. A perfect solution.  She and William spent hours playing inside and replenishing their snow as it melted.

The kids enjoyed their traditional snow fun activities...

Isaac was determined to use the motorbikes in the snow.  After a while, so much snow built up that the back tire wouldn't rotate anymore.  He switched over to the lawnmower, with the deck removed and custom chains on the wheels.

sleds pulled by the lawn mower are a classic activity

Anastaya getting pulled on the sled

Anastaya driving, Nicole Anderson in the trailer, Elizabeth on the sled

With the lawn mower "train" up and running and the snow coming down heavily, Dode decided to treat the kids to a trip to Haggen on the lawnmower train to get doughnuts.  Everyone loaded up and they were soon off on their grand adventure.  (White trash you say?  Yep, and proud of it!)  The trip was so popular they repeated it the next day.  He knew the gas on the mower was running low but thought he could make it there and back.  Not so.  They had to push the mower home, with Miriam as the driver.  She thought it was great fun, Dode not so much.  We have seven 5 gallon gas cans in the garage but I'll let you guess how much gas was there when Dode got the mower home.  Nothing!  All empty.

the girls spent days working on their fort

finished fort with plywood roof

Our metal roof always gets tons of icicles as the snow slips off during the warmer days.

The kids love pointing out just the right icicle for Dode to break off.  They suck on them like a Popsicle.

Wednesday night even Jacob got into the fun and did some snowboarding down the ramp. 

practicing his "grinds"

the littles were happy to serve as audience

his snowboarding run.  He marked the edges with pink paint so he wouldn't go flying off.

He tried to build a banked turn at the bottom.  Isaac went sailing down on a sled, caught some air and fell on his arm with a lot of force.  He thought he'd broken his arm again and the area where it was hurting was so localized that I figured he was right.  A "quick" trip to the ER revealed that he'd just sprained it.  The ace wrap gives him a good excuse for getting out of working.

Isn't an ER visit what everyone wants to do on a snow day?!

I don't think I could have picked a better time to have surgery.  Dode had scheduled to take Tuesday as an emergency day (paid leave that doesn't count towards sick leave) and Wednesday as a sick day to take care of me.  Tuesday the tribe closed early so he only used four hours of emergency leave.  The tribe was closed on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday so he got to stay home (paid) and help with the kids and fetch things for me.  He says it would have been better to actually get some vacation fun in but I think we did pretty well considering what's been going on this week.  I am so thankful that he was here to help.  Snow days are NOT lazy relaxing days.  They are days where children continually leave the doors open, track snow into the house, take off wet clothes and leave them in a clump, and loose their mittens/boots/hats/coats.  If I'd been trying to manage all that chaos from the couch, well, let's just say, I wouldn't have been.  I'd have been hobbling around trying to help and only delaying my healing.  Dode will tell you that I didn't stay on the couch enough but honestly, I really tried!

Thankful for the wood stove. 

(It is buried in there !)

We're able to get the snow things dry before the kids go back out to play.

It makes for quite a mess when the kids go digging through for that one item they're missing.

The same view without the clothes when everyone went out to play at the same time.  It doesn't look like this very often!

Snow tracks!  Throughout the house,everywhere.  I've been crawling up the stairs and sliding down them.  Every time I end up with either a wet knee or bottom from snow melting on the carpet.  The cane hasn't slipped in a puddle yet but I fear it's only a question of "when" not "if".

On the Mend

This is what I feel like I've been doing for days.....

Sit on couch, take a pain pill, try to read a book, fall asleep, wake up, hop to the bathroom, repeat. 

The kids are being very helpful.  Each time they see me struggling around, they are quick to offer their  help.  Miriam has seen Dode giving me his arm to balance on so she decided she should be a help too.  It was more hindrance than help to have her put her arm around me but she sure felt good to be helping.  Lynn was nice enough to bring over a cane on Thursday which really helped me get around.  If I just lay on the couch, I can hardly tell somethings wrong with me. 

looking good with my cane and big black "shoe".

As I walk, I hold on with both hands,  lock my arms and put as much weight from my left side as possible into my hands, which are now sporting bruises.

As soon as I get up and try to get around though, the pain is right there.  With a cane, I can put less weight on my hurt foot.  Dode says he's never seen anyone use a cane the way I'm using it.  I'm not using it for balance, I'm using it to take as much weight off my foot as possible.  You'd think that first thing in the morning my foot would feel its best and it would get more sore as the day went on.  Not so.  My digestive system is still recovering from two weeks of amoxicillin for my sinus infection which means a lot of trips to the bathroom in the middle of the night.  At first I'd been leaving my fancy shoe off at night but after five bathroom trips, my foot was screaming so the last two nights, I've slept with the shoe on.  It's an improvement but my foot is definitely at it's most sore first thing in the morning and gets progressively better as the day goes on. 

Foot Surgery

see that yellow ball?  

not comfortable!

I've been dealing with pain in my left foot for several years.  It's something called Morton's Neuroma.  It is an injury where the nerve gets damaged.  The body's response to the injury is to lay down another layer of tissue.  This leads to the nerve being more prone to injury because it's bigger and it becomes a vicious cycle of injury and the body trying to protect itself.  Because the nerve becomes too big, it rubs between the bones of the foot. When it does that, it burns and stings.   Sometimes, I even get what feel like electric shocks in my toes and on the ball of my foot.  Not fun!  It'd gotten so bad sometimes that I could hardly walk for days.  I went to a podiatrist to try to solve the problem.

The first treatment option we tried were special inserts in my shoes.  I had to get rid of all my "cute" shoes and could only wear shoes with a wide toe box.  It didn't help.  Next we did corticosteroid injections.  Over the past four years, I've had four injections.  For a long while, I could feel the nerve "popping" back and forth while I was walking but didn't have any pain.  In December, I started getting a lot of pain again.  I was working on my running and had made it up to 14 miles a week with one six mile run and two shorter runs.  Once I'd reached that milestone, my foot pain flared up and I couldn't do more than two miles without limping.  There is a limit to how many cortisone injections you can have in a joint because the cortisone can soften the tendons and cartilage in the joint.  I went back to the doctor and we decided it was time to surgically remove the pesky nerve.

I had my surgery at the same place Isaac had his broken arm fixed, an outpatient surgery center.  Dode must have been worried about me because he had vivid dreams with lots of moving around all night.  Then to add to my difficulties, Miriam came in to sleep with us because she had a tummy ache.  Three people in a double bed did not make for a restful night.  One of the times when Dode was awake because I'd (gently) kicked him to get him to stop moving, he reassured me that I'd get to sleep the next day.  Thanks!

Ready to go.  I always have a hard time getting my IV's started and that was the part I was dreading more than anything.  I told the nurse about my history and she said, "Why even mess around with the hand, let's go for the arm."  Sounds good to me!  She put the IV in a big vein on the inside of my arm and got it in on the first try.  She said she'd write in my chart, "Patient refused IV in hand."  I didn't know I had the choice but I'll know if I ever need another one.  Dode is always sure that I have a red allergy band and that everyone is aware of what's on it.  I have a severe allergy to a drug called "inapsine". 

It's an anti-nausea drug that I was given as on "off label" use when I was having pre-term labor with Isaac.  The doctor had tried the traditional ways of stopping contractions and I was on so much magnesium sulfate that I couldn't focus my eyes and had lost all the reflexes in my legs, but still the contractions continued.  In desperation, we tried inapsine and it worked.  Four hours later I was given another dose.  I felt funny right away and told the nurse.  She told me not to worry and left.  It was the middle of the night and Dode was sleeping.  Before long, feeling funny turned in to "can't breathe".  I managed to wake Dode up and my hospital room was soon filled with various medical authorities trying to stop my reaction.  I was told, "No more inapsine, the next one could be your last."  Since it could be given when I'm asleep, Dode is vigilant that all doctors and anesthesiologists know not to give it to me.

The surgery took about 30 minutes.  Once I was awake, the first thing I wanted to know was , "Did you find a neuroma?"  Whenever something is going wrong for me health wise, I always have a huge worry in the back of my mind that I'm just a big baby and everything is fine.  Having the doctor tell me that there was truly something wrong with my foot was reassuring.  We spent some time in the recovery area before we were cleared to go home.  When Isaac was there, he got a little package of Nutter Butter cookies to munch on and I was really looking forward to that little treat.  Unfortunately, I was sick to my stomach so I didn't get offer any cookies.   I was surprisingly disappointed!    But, if I balance out the getting the IV in on the first time with not getting any post-op cookies, I know I came in way ahead!  We were in the middle of first snow event of the year but our little mini van does great in the snow and I was soon installed on the couch with every kid gathered around making sure I was OK, even Jacob!

I have to stay off my foot as much as possible for five days.  I have an ace bandage over the incision that stays in place for two weeks.  I've got a cute black medical sandal to wear.  The doctor told me I would need to rest my foot and not do any exercise for a month and then only elliptical for another 2-3 weeks.  My poor elliptical is going to feel very neglected.  I use it 5-6 times a week normally.  It wonder how buried it will be in clothes by the time I can use it again!

hanging out on the couch.  Using my new computer to watch movies.  Miriam thought it would be fun to use mom as a cushion!  I just have to say that I made the best purchase when I got that couch when we moved here seven years ago.  It is so comfortable to sit on, has lots of room for kids to join me, and is in a perfect location for watching the kids play outside.

I have to keep my foot above my heart as much as possible for two days.  Blogging at the computer with my foot on up on the printer and Isaac's algebra book.

Now that my foot is fixed, it's tempting to get some cute shoes that have a rounded front instead of the boxy shoes I've been wearing for four years. For some reason, I don't think the doctor would be thrilled with that goal. I've had a little pain in my right foot and I'm sure tight footwear would send me on the fast track to another surgery! He said that the nerve they removed is only responsible for 20% of the sensation in two toes. Some numbness to start with is normal but over time, the other nerves will take over the job of the missing nerve. Even if it doesn't, numb toes are much better than stinging ones!

Resolutions 2012: Words to Live By

This year, instead of resolving to DO more, I'm resolving to BE more.  I have a few catch phrases that I'm attempting to use to guide my actions.

1.  If not me, then who?

It's so easy to get in the mindset when seeing needs around that "it's not my job..."  to fill the need.  I want to be the kind of person who doesn't need to be asked to do something.  I want to be the kind of person who jumps up to help someone else, who picks up the piece of litter in the parking lot, who lets someone else jump in front of me in line.   It's too easy (at least for me) to let "It's not my job" to turn into "but I'm the exception."  That's not the kind of person I want to be!

This one is hard for me.  Example, I see someone new at church.  "Surely someone else will introduce themselves, why would they want to meet me anyway," I tell myself.  I resolve to get outside my comfort zone and just do it!

2.  Let yes be your no.  

As a busy mom, the easiest answer is always "No!"  "No you can't go in the hot tube (I don't want to clean up after you)."  "No you can't go to a friend's house (I don't want to drive you there)."  "No, you can't have ice cream (I want you to eat dinner)."  (Who am I kidding?!  In my house the question "Can I have ice cream?" is always YES!)

I'm trying to make "Yes" my default answer.

I am reserving to give a "Yes, when.." answer.  "Yes you can go in the hot tub, if you'll help me clean up the water afterwards."  "Yes you can go to a friend's house if their parent will drive one way and you do a 10 minute chore for me."  "Yes you can have ice cream, tomorrow as a treat after dinner."

3.  Praise in public, criticize in private.

This is a two part goal.  The first part, praise.  It's so easy to speak up when things don't meet my expectations, to complain, grumble, rant.  I want to focus on positive, good things and speak up when I see them.  Whether it's something that happens in the retail industry, with other adults, or especially with my own children.

2nd part, criticism.  There's a time and a place for criticism.  Identifying a problem can help people and businesses grow.  It's the cowards' way to criticize in public, hoping others will back you up.  How much better, more gentle, is it to bring our concerns privately to someone.

I resolve to give lots of thank you to my kids in front of everyone else.  I also resolve that when correction needs to happen, I will call them to my side, put my arm around them, and quietly share my thoughts.

4.  You've got a lot of choices, choose wisely

We all have the same amount of time each day.  As a stay at home mom who home schools, I have an incredible amount of choices I can make about how to spend my days.  I want to remember that and not squander the time.  Some days it feels like we have hours to do what we want with, others days there are only minutes of unscheduled time.  I need to remember that both those days are the result of choices.

5.  Smile

Why is it that the default facial expression seems to be a frown?  I want mine to be a smile!  I want to smile often and everywhere.  Instead of looking away when I'm walking past someone, why not look them in the eye and smile?  I love catching the eye of one of my children and giving them a smile and thumbs up.  Can I smile more everywhere I go?  I've got a great life, married to a great guy, immersed with my children, living the gospel of Jesus Christ.  I've got a lot to smile about.

New Years 2012

Polar Bear Dip
Since New Year's Day was on a Sunday and we try to keep our Sundays low key to honor the Sabbath, we planned our polar bear dip for Saturday at noon.  I looked it up, we celebrated the New Year at the same time at Moscow, Russia!

Moscow, Russia at the turn of the year,

thousands gathered to welcome the new year

I'd invited the whole produce co-op as well as everyone local in my email address book. We ended up with our kids and Dode's sister Janice jumping in.  I have a vision that some day, our polar bear plunge will have hundreds of people joining us but it doesn't seem to be happening.  Where are the other brave souls?  How do I get the word out to them?  I refuse to give up!

same time, different place in the world

Lake Goodwin, WA

a few hardy souls

I wasn't able to get a photo of all of the polar bears because one was too fast for us. 

Janice approached her plunge at a run 

She's in, 1st one to take the plunge

Janice was in such a hurry to get in that she didn't pay attention to what side of the dock had a ladder for getting back out.  Dode kindly pulled her out when she realized her mistake.

Janice says next year she'd like to run around Lake Goodwin (5 miles) before jumping in.  I'm  sure we'd get more participation if we advertised a 5 mile run followed by polar bear, right?!

Isaac Colson went next, followed by Anastaya 

Isaac goes next 

doesn't he look warm?!

Elizabeth's 1st year to go all the way under 

William went in to his belly button, also a 1st for him

He made sure he was ready to swim, notice the goggles?

They gave him bravery.

What about Miriam?  She made it half way down the dock.  When she saw Janice running back from her plunge, she decided to join her.  She kept warm cuddled up with her pillow pet and blanket.  Can you find the girl hidden in the fluff? 

What about me?  I wasn't up to it this year (see below), but I'll be back at it next time.

After the plunge, the kids warmed up with hot chocolate and cookies

Ellie in the background was NOT impressed with being outside on a cold day.

She didn't like that her hands got cold and stiff. 

Treats for everyone.

We had more people watching than jumping. 

Look like a warm day?

Huddled around the propane stove that is heating up the water for hot chocolate

New Year's Day, sort  of

Since New Year's Day fell on a Sunday, Dode got Monday off as the holiday.  But did the kids?  No, the school district elected to hold school on a federal holiday.  Which means that the our public schoolers were absent, "parent excused".  We did our traditional winter break activity, ice skating followed by a meal at the Grand China Buffet.  Dode and I think it might be time for a new tradition, the kids didn't enjoy ice skating as much as they used to.  Isaac suggested skiing but it's not in the budget and we don't like to ski the with the holiday crowds.  At least we have a year to come up with something! We already can't get Jacob to get out of bed and participate with the family.  Isaac isn't far behind.  He told us over and over again in the morning that he didn't want to go ice skating and he didn't want to go out to eat.  We still paid for him to skate but he just couldn't find a comfortable pair of skates.  He'd made up his mind that he was not going to enjoy our activity and he was right.  He spent his time doing this.

Elizabeth circled the ice listening to her audio book.

the 3rd Percy Jackson book

Isaac Colson was our skater with the most endurance.  His attitude was, "I don't know what all you peoples problem is, we're here to have fun so let's do it!" 

Ice skating or chariot racing?

They had these blue plastic chariots for the small children to balance on.

The blue chariot gave William the confidence to get out on the ice.

William is our least coordinated child and often isn't able to enjoy physical activities with us.

After 20 minutes with the chariot, Miriam was ready to go it alone.

Anastaya had no problems going around and around.  She only fell once, at the end when she was racing Isaac Colson.

The littlest Dicksons didn't have much stamina and were soon tired out.

After skating, we filled our bellies with Chinese food

(or pizza and hamburgers if you're Miriam or Isaac).  Do you know how hard it is

to get everyone sitting at the table at the same time?  Nearly impossible!

Vegan Yum!

Finally on the mend
After watching me suffer with my cold all Christmas weekend, Dode insisted that I go to the doctor.  They diagnosed me with a sinus infection and with the help of antibiotics, I should now be on the road to recovery.  If it ever happens to me again, I'll know the symptoms and won't suffer for over two months.  Curious?  A runny nose that doesn't get better, facial pain especially the middle of the forehead and over the cheek bones, dizziness/light headedness.  Now the question is, why did I allow myself to suffer for so long?!  With such a sore face, I missed out on the polar bear dip this year.  The thought of that cold water getting into my sinuses was not pleasant.  Driving away, I felt really left out from the revelry.  I'll be back next year, sinus infection or not!