The Story of Us: 2014

Dec 21, 2014

The Wrong Side to Fall on

Mike trying to show off his great balance during our morning walk with Chloe

Dec 19, 2014

Justine's Mission Call

A couple of Months ago, Justine to our surprise,

announced that she was open to the idea of serving a mission!

We got really exited for her.

I told her that if she decided to go, she would never regret it!

Both Mike and I had wonderful experiences serving in the England Coventry Mission.

We loved our time there and have very fond memories.

A lot of those memories are serving together in Birmingham - where we met! :)

She got everything done in Hawaii as far as meeting with her bishop and Stake President.

And getting her papers ready, they were sent from there..

We got her assignment letter a few days before she got here today.

She opened it right after Emric got his Patriarchal Blessing.

Alexi and the Johnsons were also present.

Justine had just gotten off the plane!

So here she is, opening her mission call:

Baltimore Maryland Mission reporting the 11th of February 2015 to the Provo MTC

We are so HAPPY for her!!!!

Dec 12, 2014

My first pair of reading glasses!

It's that season in my life.
I kind of like my new accessories.
I was 46 and everyone was handing me small writings to read to them!
I felt pretty good that my vision was still superior!
Then the signs of aging appeared.
It started with my eyes getting uncomfortable and dry during the night.
I had to buy eye drops to make them feel better.
Then I had to push those small labels and writings a little further from me.
Then it was slightly bigger writings.
One night I tried Mikes ready glasses he had purchased a few months earlier!
Wow! What a difference, no more straining!

There is no turning back now!

Nov 19, 2014

Meyer Lemon Success

My little 2 foot Meyer lemon tree gave me 4 lemons this year!

It was planted a year ago last fall 2013.

It's good to see that all the watering and tender loving care is starting to pay off!

I'm so exited!

These are lemons form a coworker of Mike from his tree.

He generously gave use 2 whole grocery bags full!

I've been using them to make Water Kefir Lemonade!

Yum!

Nov 11, 2014

Chloe's Pendant

Check out Chloe's lovely pendant she found in the greenbelt!

Let me tell you it was not fun getting it unstuck from her collar!

And yes, it is what it looks like:

A stinky smelly disgusting rotten animal carcass with fur on it!
Yuck!
Needless to say she got a good shampooing after that walk!

The washing of shame...

Oct 31, 2014

Halloween

We had the huge pleasure of having my sweet niece Esther come stay with us for 10 days!

We dressed up for our ward Trunk-O-Treat and dinner.

Oct 7, 2014

Birthday Flowers

My Birthday flowers from Mike

I love Sunflowers

I love Mike

I love growing old with him

I love my life.

Oct 6, 2014

A Birthday to Remember

5pm
Mike goes to bed sick from work exhaustion.

8:40pm
Mike wakes up and comes downstairs.
Emric - as told by his mom - asks him if he wants Chicken noodle soup.
Emric opens the can of soup.
Having trouble with the lid, he tries to get more leverage by prying it with his thumb.
- Not your best call -
His thumb gets cut and starts bleeding profusely.
With his thumb bleeding over the sink, Emric was somewhat surprised at how much blood was spilling.
So, as some of us might react, he gets queasy and passes out.

He either hit the tile floor chin first or hit the counter with his face then the floor.
- This will remain a mystery -

9pm
I get home from taking Amelie to diving to this scene:
Emric laying on the living room floor, moaning with his chin split open and a pillow under his head.
He says something is wrong with his jaw and the left side of his face is numb.
The decision was quickly made to take him to the ER.

9:15pm
I hurriedly get into comfy clothes and grab some pillows and blankets.

Before getting up and walking supported by Mike to go in the car,
Emric - the lifeguard - asks himself how may fingers he is holding up, what day it is and what's his name!

9:45pm
He is seen by the Urgent care staff.
They take Xrays, Cat scans and put 4 stitches in his chin.

10:45pm
Mike and Amelie go home as it is getting late, and Mike has a massive headache.

11:10pm
We are told he has a fractured Jaw bone and a fractured Temporal bone.
They want him taken to Children's Hospital ER for further observation by specialists.

11:12pm
Mom is not feeling so good, is going white and need to lay down and be given some apple juice.

11:20pm
Mom says a fervent prayer with and for her kid.

11:30pm
Emric is taken in an ambulance to Texas Children' ER.
Mom is following, worried, with no idea what the future holds for her boy
and wondering what does this all mean.
Will he have life long consequences form his head injuries?

Tuesday 7th
My 47th Birthday
12:20am
Emric is admitted in room 21 of the ER.
He is put on a vital signs monitor that will loudly beep randomly every 5 sec to 15mn
for the next 10 hours!!!
Doctors and nurses randomly come and go asking questions of how it happened
while pocking and touching his face.
Often not knowing others had already come...
Emric and I just drift in and out of sleep all night - him in the bed, me on 2 chairs put together.

Sometime between 4am and 6am
Doctors come and talk to mom and Emric about his fractures.
Again, mom gets all weak and almost passes out. Crackers and OJ are prescribed.

8:30am
We are told Emric can go home, no surgery needed just no Diving and no chewing for 6 week.
And 2 followup visits are to be scheduled, one with a Plastic surgeon and another for a hearing test.

11:00 am
Emric is discharged.

What a night!
I'm just so happy Emric has no complications!!!!
He is going to be just fine...

PS: See my feather pillow under his head? Well it never came home... :(

Oct 5, 2014

Grateful For Conference

This is my little set up Sunday for watching to the 4hs of General Conference.
Every 6 months I look forward to it!

Today, the weather was perfect.
The talks inspiring.

The only thing missing was my hubby who had to work all week-end!
We did watch the Saturday morning session together in a hotel he got down town.
He had to be at a site for work during the night.
So I joined him at work, we had dinner together and breakfast.
It's the only way I got to see him a bit this past week!
This month is very busy for him.
I complain a bit but I am so grateful he still has this job!
Going on 5 years now when he got contracted for 2.

But I do miss him...