August 2022 Part 6: All the Other Things

August brought us beauty and relaxation, in addition to everything else we've already mentioned. We had some really awesome lightning storms, which these pictures couldn't even come close to capturing. 

We saw deer around the neighborhood. 

Rachel danced in the Highland Days Parade. She did a one-handed cartwheel multiple times; we didn't even know that she could do that!

Brian and the kids, along with Kirt and Julie, attended the Highland Games after the parade, but I had to go shoot that wedding, so I missed that this year. 

Michael's football season went into full swing, and we loved going to the Maroon and Gold Games at the high school. They made a big deal out of each team, and we watched a short game of the two B teams playing together. We felt so much a part of the community, and it was really fun.

Gabe was happy in August, but he was also sad. Usually multiple times with each emotion each hour. 

We grilled for the first time all summer something that wasn't hot dogs. We discovered how good grilling corn on the cob was too. 

I participated in a chalk war with the Young Women, but I was a little late to the party and only got a little chalked up. 

Brian and I decided that after putting it off for three years, it was time to tackle all the kids school work. It took FOREVER, but we finally trimmed all their amazing work down to just a few items, took pictures of others, and recycled most of it. Our kitchen table was completely overrun by school papers from the last three years for at least a week. This is actually after we were 95% finished. We now have a system and rough standards list for future years. 

We roasted marshmallows and had s'mores. 

Rachel continued to work on doing her own hair. 

I helped my young women made candy grams for one of their classmates that had Covid, and a new classmate that had just moved in. (Note to self: DO NOT take Michael with 5 girls to a store). 

We went to Michael's football games. 

We tried out raincoats. 

This pink one didn't make the cut. 

We moved Fil the Fish up to Michael's room. Someday, when Rachel can keep her room clean, Fil will live in there. 

Michael tries to teach Rachel all she needs to know for when that day arrives. 

Gabe was as sweet as ever (and maybe also as sour as ever. What would we do without this kid?)

I went through Gabe's room while he was at school and took out a good chunk of toys to donate. Gabe doesn't really play with toys. I had a friend that said that about her kids, and I didn't really understand until I had Gabe. It was a sad day. We said goodbye to these awesome toys. (We did keep one Rex since he had two). It was painful, but he hasn't noticed. 

We went to more football games. 

Gabe ran into the stairs pole. It was sad. 

Michael cleaned up the craft room so that Nana and Papa could sleep in there. 

And we soon found ourselves saying, "Where did August go?"

 

August 2022 Part 5: Heart Ablation

On August 29, bright and early dark and early, we headed to Provo to Utah Valley Hospital for my heart ablation surgery.

But let me back up. Saturday, August 27, we threw that block party. When neighbors found out how close it was to surgery, they wondered what in the world we were doing throwing a party. We responded that we needed a distraction so we didn't think about it. By the end of the party, we had several people volunteer to bring us meals post surgery. We felt so loved. 

On August 28, Brian and I were both a total wreck. I did pretty good not thinking about it while we were at church, but once I got home, it was about all I could think about. So, I did something I don't normally do on a Sunday: I pulled out some crafts. I got all this stuff at the Dollar Tree for Halloween prep, and I decided to get going on it. So, when Kirt and Julie and Lea came over later, they found our kitchen counter a total mess, hot glue guns on and in use, napkins, Mod Podge, paint, and a ton of jars. I knew it wasn't the smart play; a housewife should probably make sure her house is in order before surgery, but I couldn't handle it. All I could think was that in the morning, they were going to have instruments inside my heart. MY HEART! 

Before going to bed that night, Kirt helped Brian give me a blessing, and I suggested that Brian ask for one too. After the blessings, we both felt so much better--miraculously so. We were able to sleep instead of worrying all night, and we even listened to an upbeat playlist on the way to the hospital. I was singing as we walked up to the doors, even though it was 5 a.m. 

We checked in, and then waited.   They drew blood for some lab work. Then we waited. 

I got changed, and we waited. 

Truthfully, though, we didn't wait in the lobby too long. The medical assistant did a lot of prepping for surgery. I think the biggest thing we waited on was the bloodwork to come back from the lab. 

We were watching a special on Stonehenge when they came for me. It's always a little strange for me to head into surgery, sit on the table, and wonder what I'm going to remember about the experience when I wake up. I felt so calm though, and I was so grateful for that. 

Waking up from surgery was horrible. I had to go to the bathroom so badly, and my throat hurt like mad, and I felt so nauseous (despite my motion sickness patch and other anti-nausea meds they gave me). I seriously wondered why they took the anesthesia away so abruptly! I was so uncomfortable and awful. Waking up is never my favorite, and this was the worst wake up in a long time. (Brian's note: I've seen Devri under anesthesia a few times, and it's about like this every time. Maybe slightly worse since she had to lay on her back.)

They were quick to take care of my bladder, though it DID feel like forever. I had to lay flat on my back to 2 hours, and the first hour was wretched. I threw up/coughed up bloody mucus for a while, and Brian was so good to hold that bag and be right there when I needed it. My throat hurt so badly because of the intubation tube, but they were good about keeping me in a good slushy supply. Thankfully, Brian was super awesome and sweet, and they hooked my gown up to a heater, so at least I wasn't cold and wretched. Brian didn't bring his jacket inside, but he was grateful I convinced him to change into pants before we left the house because it was freezing in our room. He borrowed my sweatshirt for the day. 

After two hours, I got to sit up a little bit more. We ordered some lunch and watched some TV. After six ish hours, I was released, and we headed home with only Tylenol for pain. 

We got home, and I went straight to my room. I was so dizzy and uncomfortable, but I was grateful to not have to worry about anything. Each kid came and snuggled with me for a little bit before bed. 

Brian was my communications expert, and he was so great about keeping everyone up to date on surgery. Jen texted all day, wondering if there was anything she could do. Serene and Dustin came by in the evening, and Serene came and talked to me for a little bit. I didn't talk much because my throat hurt so badly, but it meant so much to me that they drove out to see me and bring these flowers. 

Of course, Gracie was my constant companion during recovery. 

I watched lots of movies, and by day 3 post surgery, my throat finally stopped hurting. I had minor chest pain and general fatigue. Mostly, I would say that recovery was just a lot of uncomfortable. The verdict is still out on how effective it will be, but I'm grateful to Dr. Ron Chong-Yik for his expert surgical care. Fingers crossed that this works. It can take 3-6 months to know for sure. 

August 2022 Part 4: Fun with Friends and Family

In August, we REALLY needed our friends and family, and they were amazing!

On the first Saturday in August, I had the opportunity to photograph a wedding from my friend Jenn Washburn's son, Mark. I taught Mark in Sunday School when he was in high school, and I also took his senior pictures, so it was so great being able to take his wedding photos. Brian and I got invited to his fairly exclusive reception dinner at the Joseph Smith Memorial Building in downtown Salt Lake City. We got to catch up with another one of my Sunday School kids, which was really fun. 

Gabe's friend Logan's mom is good at setting up play dates, and I tried to be better, thanks to her example. I can't remember whose idea it was to go to the Dinosaur Island exhibit in the Thanksgiving Pointe Gardens, but the important thing is that we went and checked it out. We invited Bianca to come with Rachel. The only complaint is that it was really hot. 

Partway through our walk, we had an opportunity to try watercoloring. 

We saw T-Rex

and the Koi Pond. 

As mentioned in a previous post, Taryn and her kids came to hang with us one Saturday. Next year, maybe we can get them to come on a day that ISN'T stormy. We still had fun though. 

Papa took Danny and Michael fishing the day before 7th grade day. We dropped them off on Sunday night so Papa could take them first thing in the morning. As usual, they all caught a lot of fish and had a great time. 

We went on a date with Dustin and Serene to Gardner Village. I had gone there a day or two before with Serene, and we found several furniture pieces that we thought would look good, and we needed to get Dustin's approval, so we made a date out of it. We ate at Archibald's while we were there. 

We had our next door neighbors over for dinner, and Michael held baby Gabriella, so we had to get a picture. He's so cute with the littles. 

We played Tee-K-O in the Jackbox party pack where everyone submits random drawings and then slogans, and another player puts them together to create a funny t-shirt. This combination popped up on my screen, and it made me laugh so hard, but it felt entirely inappropriate to actually create and throw it up on the screen, so naturally I'm putting it in the blog instead. 

We love having these amazing people living right next door. 

Our Cul-de-sac used to have a reputation for amazing parties and all around fun, but when the major instigators of such fun things left, Brian and I have tried to fill those shoes, but we've done a poor job of it. Our neighbor, Saroj, suggested having a block party, and I mentioned it to Amy, and we put together a party on August 27. We had a great turn-out. We ordered pizza, and people brought sides to share. We had a few games out for the kids, but mostly there was a lot of visiting and meeting of neighbors. Here's a picture to prove we did it. Dustin came with the kids and felt rather awkward, then there's Brian, some of our kids, Amy, Jon, and Me. We have great neighbors, and we feel really blessed to live where we live. 

On Sunday, Brian took Rachel and Gabe to go see The Piano Guys perform with the Tabernacle Choir for Music and the Spoken Word. (Michael and I went to Church instead. It was one of two Sundays that we meet with the Young Women, and I didn't want to miss, especially when we'd missed so many days this summer.)

Kirt & Julie, and Lea and a couple of her kids came over after dinner, and we roasted marshmallows. They were there to provide love and support for Brian and I since it was the night before my heart ablation. Kirt and Julie were staying the night so they could get the kids to school in the morning. 

Before bed, Papa gave Michael a little music lesson, which was really cool. 

We are truly blessed by our neighborhood, our friends, and especially our family. We're so grateful that Lea and Kirt and Julie live so close. What would we do without them?