I am doing much better!
I am getting my mobility and range of motion back.
I am not taking my pain medicine anymore.
I am not even wearing my sling.
Life is good.
I'm thankful for a body that can heal; for bones that can be shaved-off and then fix themselves, for muscles that can be torn and heal themselves. I am thankful for a maker who created our magnificent bodies and that I have been blessed with good health.
Thank you for all your well wishes and your concern. They have meant so much to me and our family.
Friday, February 20, 2009
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
My Valentines Day present!!!!!
I GOT A BOSCH MIXER FOR VALENTINE'S DAY!!!
Many of you out there may not think that this would be a good Valentine's Day present. You may be saying, "A mixer? How could her husband get her a mixer for Valentines?" Well, let me just tell you, I WAS THRILLED!!!! I've had my own wheat grinder for a few years now and I've loved having it. I've been able to make a lot of things with it, but not much bread. You see, most the bread recipes I've inherited or been passed along don't just make 1 or 2 loaves. They make 5 or 6 loaves! I only have beaters, people. I have a hand mixer. That's it. There is no way I was going to try those recipes by hand. You may ask, "Well, why not try to scale down the recipe to make 1 or 2 loaves?" I've tried that too, and once you start getting into fractions and decimals with measuring cups, it just doesn't work. I've had a few attempts at this and the outcome was not desirable.....
So, I've been wanting some type of mixer for a while....but since we've been feverishly working on getting out of debt we could not justify the expense.
I had to wait.
Well, the waiting was worth it!!!! Here is my new beauty of a mixer:
Yesterday I made bread! I made 5 loaves of 100% whole wheat bread. I ground the wheat in my own wheat grinder and I mixed it all up in my new Bosch! I made it and it turned out so good! I was so excited! I think I was smiling all day!
Here is the recipe I used. It's from a good friend, Sandy who shard her bread making talents and an enrichment night during the summer.
2/3 Cup vegetable oil
1 Tbsp. salt
3 T. instant yeast
2/3 cup honey
6 cups hot water
6 cups whole wheat flour to start, plus approx. 8 cups
Mix oil, honey, salt and water. Add 6 cups flour. Mix, then add yeast. Mix in rest of flour, one cup at a time until the desired consistency. Use kneader attachment and knead for 6 minutes, or knead by hand for about 10-12 minutes. (I just let my dough mix around in my Bosch for about 8 minutes). Let rise until double. Punch down. Let rest for 1 minute, Shape and put into pans. Bake for 10 minutes at 400*. Lower temp to 325 for 20 minutes. Remove from pans and cool on racks.
**My favorite loaf that I made yesterday was a variation that Sandy suggested at her class. I rolled the bread dough out, spread a little olive oil across the surface of the dough. I then added dried rosemary, garlic and basil. Then you roll up the loaf and bake it just like normal. It turned out SO YUMMY!!!! Seriously, it tasted like a loaf from Great Harvest. SUPER, super good!!!
Many of you out there may not think that this would be a good Valentine's Day present. You may be saying, "A mixer? How could her husband get her a mixer for Valentines?" Well, let me just tell you, I WAS THRILLED!!!! I've had my own wheat grinder for a few years now and I've loved having it. I've been able to make a lot of things with it, but not much bread. You see, most the bread recipes I've inherited or been passed along don't just make 1 or 2 loaves. They make 5 or 6 loaves! I only have beaters, people. I have a hand mixer. That's it. There is no way I was going to try those recipes by hand. You may ask, "Well, why not try to scale down the recipe to make 1 or 2 loaves?" I've tried that too, and once you start getting into fractions and decimals with measuring cups, it just doesn't work. I've had a few attempts at this and the outcome was not desirable.....
So, I've been wanting some type of mixer for a while....but since we've been feverishly working on getting out of debt we could not justify the expense.
I had to wait.
Well, the waiting was worth it!!!! Here is my new beauty of a mixer:
Yesterday I made bread! I made 5 loaves of 100% whole wheat bread. I ground the wheat in my own wheat grinder and I mixed it all up in my new Bosch! I made it and it turned out so good! I was so excited! I think I was smiling all day!
Here is the recipe I used. It's from a good friend, Sandy who shard her bread making talents and an enrichment night during the summer.
2/3 Cup vegetable oil
1 Tbsp. salt
3 T. instant yeast
2/3 cup honey
6 cups hot water
6 cups whole wheat flour to start, plus approx. 8 cups
Mix oil, honey, salt and water. Add 6 cups flour. Mix, then add yeast. Mix in rest of flour, one cup at a time until the desired consistency. Use kneader attachment and knead for 6 minutes, or knead by hand for about 10-12 minutes. (I just let my dough mix around in my Bosch for about 8 minutes). Let rise until double. Punch down. Let rest for 1 minute, Shape and put into pans. Bake for 10 minutes at 400*. Lower temp to 325 for 20 minutes. Remove from pans and cool on racks.
**My favorite loaf that I made yesterday was a variation that Sandy suggested at her class. I rolled the bread dough out, spread a little olive oil across the surface of the dough. I then added dried rosemary, garlic and basil. Then you roll up the loaf and bake it just like normal. It turned out SO YUMMY!!!! Seriously, it tasted like a loaf from Great Harvest. SUPER, super good!!!
Saturday, February 14, 2009
Shoulder Surgery
Yes, I had shoulder surgery.
Monday morning.
And I'm in a lot of pain.
I had to have this same surgery on my right shoulder in 2005. In 2003 I started feeling some weird pain in my shoulder. It didn't come from an injury, it just started one day. It would come and go and I would only feel it while doing certain things, or by lifting weights a certain way. I put it off for about a year and then the pain got practically unbearable. I could barely pick up my kids and it was interfering with my sleep at night. I did about 1 year of physical therapy and ultrasound therapy, with no results. I also had 4 cortisone shots that would last about 4 weeks, and then wear off. Finally, they referred me to an orthopaedic surgeon and he took x-rays. I had problems. A 'hooked' acromium bone, 'pistoning' (think pistons in a car) by my humerus bone and a partial tear in my rotator cuff. After all that trying to fix it alternatively, the only solution was surgery.
About 6 months ago I started feeling the exact, same pain in my left shoulder. I thought to myself, "Oh no. Here is comes. This is it. It's the same thing." I put it off for a while, and it just kept getting worse. I decided that I better go in to see if my suspicions were correct. Sure enough, it was the same thing. The dr. said it was up to me as to when we could do the surgery. He said he felt the sooner the better, because why put myself through more pain than I needed to, and also, I could be more ready for the summer running/triathlon season if I did it now. So, on the way home, Brett and I talked and decided that now was the time. We prayed about it and felt good about our decision. So, this Monday, I had it done.
I am so thankful for modern medicine and technology. I have 3 small incisions around my shoulder area. The proceedure consists of shaving off the 'hooked' part of my acromium bone, fixing the enflamed bursa, tightening the ligaments so to fix the 'pistoning' of my humerus and sewing the partial tear in my rotator cuff. I had great care. My dr. is fabulous and the nurses were great. My anesthesiologist whipped up a 'magic potion' for me and I DID NOT THROW UP AT ALL!!! (For those of you who know my history, you know this is a major feat!)
Monday morning.
And I'm in a lot of pain.
It hurts. But, I'm ok.
I had to have this same surgery on my right shoulder in 2005. In 2003 I started feeling some weird pain in my shoulder. It didn't come from an injury, it just started one day. It would come and go and I would only feel it while doing certain things, or by lifting weights a certain way. I put it off for about a year and then the pain got practically unbearable. I could barely pick up my kids and it was interfering with my sleep at night. I did about 1 year of physical therapy and ultrasound therapy, with no results. I also had 4 cortisone shots that would last about 4 weeks, and then wear off. Finally, they referred me to an orthopaedic surgeon and he took x-rays. I had problems. A 'hooked' acromium bone, 'pistoning' (think pistons in a car) by my humerus bone and a partial tear in my rotator cuff. After all that trying to fix it alternatively, the only solution was surgery. It was a hard time to have surgery. Brett was in school full time working for his master's degree; he was also working full time with AirMed. I had a 5 year old and 2 year old twins and was also the Relief Society president in my ward. Needless to say, we were busy! But, we did it and I'm so glad we did. Recovery was hard, but worth it. I had full range of motion in about 4 weeks, but then had to build up my strength over time. About 1 year later, I felt like I was as close to 100% as I would ever get. I can do practically everything I could do before and best of all, there is no pain!
About 6 months ago I started feeling the exact, same pain in my left shoulder. I thought to myself, "Oh no. Here is comes. This is it. It's the same thing." I put it off for a while, and it just kept getting worse. I decided that I better go in to see if my suspicions were correct. Sure enough, it was the same thing. The dr. said it was up to me as to when we could do the surgery. He said he felt the sooner the better, because why put myself through more pain than I needed to, and also, I could be more ready for the summer running/triathlon season if I did it now. So, on the way home, Brett and I talked and decided that now was the time. We prayed about it and felt good about our decision. So, this Monday, I had it done.
I am so thankful for modern medicine and technology. I have 3 small incisions around my shoulder area. The proceedure consists of shaving off the 'hooked' part of my acromium bone, fixing the enflamed bursa, tightening the ligaments so to fix the 'pistoning' of my humerus and sewing the partial tear in my rotator cuff. I had great care. My dr. is fabulous and the nurses were great. My anesthesiologist whipped up a 'magic potion' for me and I DID NOT THROW UP AT ALL!!! (For those of you who know my history, you know this is a major feat!) Anyway, I am ok. My family and ward are taking great care of me. Thank you to all who have helped me and for keeping us in your prayers. Last night was a really hard night, but today I'm feeling better. I'll keep you updated on my progress.
Friday, February 13, 2009
Thursday, February 12, 2009
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
It's OFFICIAL!!!!
We're...........DEBT ...........FREE!!!!!!!!!!!!
It is official. Yes, we are debt free!!! We can hardly believe it and we are so thrilled and feel so blessed. Last January, we started Dave Ramsey's program, The Total Money Makeover. You may remember me posting about going to his live show in May and we had planned to have our debts paid off by early fall. Well, we had a few bumps along the road and things come up, but here we are. No debts.
In less than 1 year, we paid off $30,000. I can't believe that we actually did it! It wasn't easy, not at all. We had to give up a lot of 'fun' things and we got a lot of flack from people, but we knew it would all be worth it. Now, we're on the other side, having gone through it and it was ALL worth it! What an incredible feeling!
If you don't know anything about Dave Ramsey, check out his website here. Or tune in and listen on 570 AM from 7 - 10pm. It's not any magic formulas or secret investments, it's common sense, but ideas that the American society has moved far away from. We feel so blessed and we are so grateful to Heavenly Father for his bounteous blessings.
The kids were as much a part of this than anything. They had to give up things too. We would always tell them, "Nope, we can't buy that because remember, we're getting out of debt." Or, "No, we're not going out to eat tonight because we're paying off our debts." They got used to the idea and stopped asking for things. One time at the grocery store our bill came up and Connor said, "Mom, do we have enough in the budget for that?" I assured him that yes, we did have enough. The checker practically choked on her gum and said, "Wow....that's great you're teaching your kids about budgeting at such a young age."
The day we paid off our last debt the kids were almost as excited as we were. Makenna's teacher told me she came to school so excited and said, "Teacher, teacher, we're debt free!!!!" The teacher laughed and said, "Do you know what that means?" Makenna said, "Yes, and you don't?" The teacher said, "No, I know what it means, I just want to make sure you know what it means." She said, "Yes, it means that we don't owe anyone any money."
The next day at the store I ran into an old neighbor that my kids don't know from anyone. McKay waited until we were done talking and said, "Guess what? We're debt free!" I'm glad that they are so excited about it all.
We went out to eat to celebrate and we are so thrilled that our money is working for us now, not us working for our money. Thank you to all those family members and friends who encouraged us and gave us support through this whole thing! We did it!!!
We have lived like no one else, so now, we can live like no one else.
It is official. Yes, we are debt free!!! We can hardly believe it and we are so thrilled and feel so blessed. Last January, we started Dave Ramsey's program, The Total Money Makeover. You may remember me posting about going to his live show in May and we had planned to have our debts paid off by early fall. Well, we had a few bumps along the road and things come up, but here we are. No debts.
In less than 1 year, we paid off $30,000. I can't believe that we actually did it! It wasn't easy, not at all. We had to give up a lot of 'fun' things and we got a lot of flack from people, but we knew it would all be worth it. Now, we're on the other side, having gone through it and it was ALL worth it! What an incredible feeling!
If you don't know anything about Dave Ramsey, check out his website here. Or tune in and listen on 570 AM from 7 - 10pm. It's not any magic formulas or secret investments, it's common sense, but ideas that the American society has moved far away from. We feel so blessed and we are so grateful to Heavenly Father for his bounteous blessings.
The kids were as much a part of this than anything. They had to give up things too. We would always tell them, "Nope, we can't buy that because remember, we're getting out of debt." Or, "No, we're not going out to eat tonight because we're paying off our debts." They got used to the idea and stopped asking for things. One time at the grocery store our bill came up and Connor said, "Mom, do we have enough in the budget for that?" I assured him that yes, we did have enough. The checker practically choked on her gum and said, "Wow....that's great you're teaching your kids about budgeting at such a young age."
The day we paid off our last debt the kids were almost as excited as we were. Makenna's teacher told me she came to school so excited and said, "Teacher, teacher, we're debt free!!!!" The teacher laughed and said, "Do you know what that means?" Makenna said, "Yes, and you don't?" The teacher said, "No, I know what it means, I just want to make sure you know what it means." She said, "Yes, it means that we don't owe anyone any money."
The next day at the store I ran into an old neighbor that my kids don't know from anyone. McKay waited until we were done talking and said, "Guess what? We're debt free!" I'm glad that they are so excited about it all.
We went out to eat to celebrate and we are so thrilled that our money is working for us now, not us working for our money. Thank you to all those family members and friends who encouraged us and gave us support through this whole thing! We did it!!!
We have lived like no one else, so now, we can live like no one else.
Saturday, February 7, 2009
Mommy Makenna
Yesterday while I was doing Makenna's hair, she said, "Mom, what am I going to do when I grow up like you?" I said, "I don't know, what do you want to do?" She said, "Go to the park with my kids and have a picnic. I like it when we do that."
I asked her how many kids she was going to have and she hesitated...I said, "12?" She said, "NO MOM!!! 12 is too many! I think I'll have 8 girls and 10 boys."
I chuckled and said, "Do you know how many kids that is? That is 18 kids! You'd be a very busy mom!" She said, "18? Good, then I have 18 kids to do the dishes for me."
She was quiet for a minute and then said, "Oh. Except for the diapers. I don't want to have to change 18 diapers."
I asked her how many kids she was going to have and she hesitated...I said, "12?" She said, "NO MOM!!! 12 is too many! I think I'll have 8 girls and 10 boys."
I chuckled and said, "Do you know how many kids that is? That is 18 kids! You'd be a very busy mom!" She said, "18? Good, then I have 18 kids to do the dishes for me."
She was quiet for a minute and then said, "Oh. Except for the diapers. I don't want to have to change 18 diapers."
Such a funny girl! She is so precious, we love her.
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