See Jordan Run

I was here at my computer an hour ago when I saw Jordan racing past my bedroom window.  I immediately jumped up and ran out to the back door just as I saw Jordan racing back out with shot gun in hand.  That's when I knew we had lost our 3rd chicken this week.
And our Wiley coyote is getting more and more brave. At the beginning of the week, Del watched the coyote go running past our back window and Del went out and chased it into the back forest, but not until that coyote turned around and stared Del down, just daring  Del to shoot it between the eyes.  It left two separate piles of feathers as his reminder that he's moved back into the neighborhood and we should be ready for a return visit.
The Circle of Life at Blackjack Oaks.

Define 'Lesion'

For someone not diagnosed with any certain Disease, the word 'lesion' has many possible definitions.
For someone with Multiple Sclerosis, it means that there are definite results from 'episodes' Del has had over the past years.
For someone with Multiple Sclerosis AND other issues going on causing him SEVERE and unusual pain, 3 'significant lesions that appear to be something OTHER than MS' cause me a LOT of concern.
His MRI results show three lesions - one in the brain - one in the C4 spine - and one in a gland behind his left ear.
We're told it could be MS - we're told it could be tumors - we're told it might be spots of infection or inflammation.  What in the heck does all that mean.
AND - they want us to re-check him in 6 months to see if there are any changes, since the last MRI was 18 years ago.
Ok, NO!!  I am not going to THINK it's anything for 6 months, while we TRY a gluten free diet, we TRY certain medications and we TRY to see what it night be.
I want Del going to an MS specialist, who, from years of experience looking at MRI's can say, 'Yes, those are from MS' or 'NO, I've never seen that with MS before, it may be something else'.
I don't want 6 months to go by with his having 'lesions' that only have question marks behind them.
Del means more to me than that.
Looks like I'm going to have to get pushy and whiny in order to be heard by my sweet husband and the doctors...
I can do that though.

Four Weeks Old and Incredibly Adorable

This sweet baby girl is being blessed this coming Sunday.
Can she be any cuter???
I don't think so!

Promised Blessings in View

This was Del's Father's Day gift from me.  It is a quote from each of our patriarchal blessings, hand painted and then framed.  They are hanging in our bedroom.
When Del and I got married, we shared our patriarchal blessings with each other, and each of us chose a part of the others blessing that we really loved and felt was significant .  These were the phrases we chose.
That was 35 years ago.  Those phrases still hold the same significance to each of us, so I had them made for our remembrance. I love them.  I look at them in the privacy of our bedroom where only we get to enjoy them, and they bring me comfort - joy - security and peace.  I know that my life, intertwined with his, brings these blessings.
There are many other parts of our blessings that also hold special significance for us, And we strive each day to be worthy of the many blessings promised us through righteousness.
Happy Father's Day sweetheart.

New Diets

Del's been told to go gluten free.
I've been told to 'eat clean'.
I'm good with this.

Not Dead Yet

Continued Health issues are creeping up on us.
Del has had one of the worst past two months ever.  He has swelling in his legs and arms, severe pain in his neck and legs...to the point that he actually made an appointment to go to the doctor.  As I posted earlier, he is allergic to a lot of things, but in my mind, not any that should be causing the symptoms he is having.  It's something else.
His MS has now reached the highest level of severity - and there is something else.  What it is, I don't know yet, but I insisted that he have an MRI done last Friday, of which we will know the results the end of this next week.  He has lost weight - about 13 pounds.  He's weak, he's tired, no appetite and no strength to do much of anything.  That's not an allergy.  Something else is wrong and I'm determined to find out what.
And then I went to the doctor last Friday to find out the results of some testing I've had done - good news is I do not carry the gene for breast cancer...bad news, I have Hashimotos disease, which is an autoimmune disease that attacks the thyroid and now I'm on meds for that.  Plus, menopause has left me with NO sex hormones...no testosterone, no estrogen, progesterone or saritonan.  Depleted - boe dry.  Now, I'm needing to decide whether or not to do hormone replacement therapy or let myself ride the sexless train out for the rest of my life.  But more than just that, it's mood swings, weight issues and constant fatigue.
I've got to get through Del's issues first - then I'll worry about me.

But This One is Deadly!

Del and Emerson were out on one of their daily hikes in the back forest when they came upon  this one.
A Copperhead.  And Del didn't see fit to kill this one. He can't explain why either.  I'm not happy about this and won't be going outside anytime in the near future either.
And if by chance, that deadly snake makes it's way up to our backyard and porch, and decides to bite any one of us, you can be assured I will be letting Del know just how not happy I really am.

Three Weeks Already

Hard to believe she's already three weeks old -
and she's beautiful.  She looks just like Emerson - seriously.  There was one picture that Lexi posted on facebook that Kylie responded to by saying, 'It's Emerson with a bow'.
Sure hope she comes with the same curly hair in a few years...

Ammon, the Arm Slayer

This is Ammon.
Kathryn's fiance.
Yup, you read that right.
Ammon Malone.
I've never met him - neither has Del, but we both said 'yes'.
So, to explain the details.
A month ago, Kathryn decides to tell us she has been dating a guy for a few days and he's getting serious.  She is hesitant, but really likes him.  Things progress and with in 2 weeks, they are talking marriage.  The next week, he calls Del and asks if he can marry Kathryn and Del says yes. Now, we are a planning a wedding for Sept. 15th in Utah.
Yes, he's handsome, talented, hard worker, good personality and sense of humor, and a HUGE BYU fan.  He's also the father of 4 children and has been divorced twice.  Certainly red flags when we first heard, but then the details were shared - first wife was an arranged marriage shortly after he got home off his mission and his father died.  They had 2 children, and then decided they should have remained friends and not gotten married.  They have Rykert and Lilly.  Rykert has cystic fibrosis.
Then a few years later, he married again, had two sons, and that wife had about 6 affairs on him and was mentally not well, so ended up in a rehab place.  Ammon had the two younger boys until she got out and then came and took them.  She won't let Ammon see the boys now.  He's taking her to court for joint custody.
And Kathryn has found herself smack in the middle of all of this instant motherhood stuff and very much in love with Ammon.  Del and I are actually impressed with Ammon and feel that he and Kathryn are a perfect match.  He has drifted away from the church after his father died and both divorces and so needless to say, there will not be a temple wedding.
But we are pleased with Kathryn's choice.  We have had several opportunities to talk and visit with Ammon both on the phone and skyping - he's sharp - a singer too.  He treats Kathryn beautifully and kindly.  And she is very lucky and blessed to have found such a great guy.
Of course, Kathryn does have some anxiety - this instant motherhood thing has her slightly thrown out of her comfort zone.  I think she'll handle it a lot better than she thinks she will.  The Lord is very mindful of Kathryn and her abilities.  I think He will sustain her in her desires to be a good wife and step mom to these kids.  And we will support her in this new life she will have.
Kathryn seems genuinely happy - calm and content when with him.  Less drama - less sick - more stable.  She just seems ready.  I'm happy for her and know that if she will trust in herself, in Ammon and in the Lord, this will actually work and make her very happy.

Papa's Cup of Coffee

This is 5:30 this morning.
Saturday morning.
The 'I get to sleep in' morning.
And this is Emerson - the 'I had a bad dream about monsters and need my Papa' morning.
Most people need a cup of coffee first thing in the morning to help them even function.
This was all Papa needed.
Early morning story time with Emerson.
Papa's cup of coffee.

Allergic to Everything

Del is at an all time high level of pain and discomfort.  Even the word 'cancer' has crossed my mind and been in my thoughts.  And he has apparently been in enough pain that he finally went to the doctor.  He hasn't been able to walk, his neck has been in pain, his feet and ankles, his legs, arms and almost every joint in his body.
So the testing has started.  He went and had his blood drawn - about 8 viles of it...we are still waiting for most of those results which we should receive later today.  In the meantime, they did environmental allergy testing, sticking him with 6 panels of needles, with 10 needles in each panel into his back.
The picture says it all.  He is literally allergic to everything.  Every tree, bush, type of grass, pollen etc etc...so..that means, that the very thing he does of working out in the yard for mental and physical therapy is one of the many things that is actually gradually killing him.
Nice.  The doctor will also be telling us all the foods he is allergic to - and Del may end up needing to go glucose free in his eating habits.
My thinking.?..bottom line, I think , and Del and the doctor also somewhat agree, that Del's MS has progressed to the next level.  He is now experiencing even more severe symptoms and discomforts.  I'm worried. I'm worried things are getting worse...and quickly. I'm trying not to panic and make things up in my head - but until we get some test results, I'm watching Del struggle every  day to walk, kneel to pray, turn his head, hold things in his hands and basically to simple functions.  I just want him out of pain.  But I'm even having to be careful how I word THAT request in my prayers.  I don't want him out of pain if the only way for that to happen is death.  But I don't want him to suffer.  There have to be answers soon, and then ways to treat the symptoms...
Faith..Prayers and patience.  Not my strong points...but I'll try.

Evelyn Mae Lott

She's ARRIVED!!!
Our sweet little Evie arrived Saturday, May 27th at 1:48 p.m. with no time to spare.  Her due date was the day before where Lexi did have contractions, but then they stopped and Saturday came with really nothing happening.  But that changed real quickly giving them only enough time to drive to the hospital where she was already completely dialated and delivered only 10 minutes later.
And she is beautiful...looks much like Emerson did.  And speaking of Emerson?  He loves her already.  Wants to always hold her, touch her, kiss attack her and be near her.  Jordan has adjusted well to having 'his little girl'.  And Lexi is the perfect mother, as usual.
Welcome to the family sweet Evie Mae.

Calming Emerson Before the Storm

The week before Lexi's due date, Emerson was feeling the excitement and tension in the air of the upcoming birth of his baby sister.  He knew something was different and he was feeling a little misplaced.
So those of us around him made special efforts to cuddle him, give him undivided attention, do special things with him and all things to make him feel special.
It worked.  He certainly felt loved.

School Days...and Lucy

Kylie always takes first and last day pictures of school.  When she went to do it this year, Lucy INSISTED on having her picture taken too.
All three are adorable.

I'll NEVER Get Used to This

Again - in the chicken coop.
Jordan had to kill it...then pick me up off the ground.

Top Golf with Magnolia Dental

Our office has a very close and personal working relationship with Magnolia Dental.  The doctor at Magnolia, Brady Camp, is LDS, as is one of his hygenist.  We send them a lot of business and they do the same for us.  So we started a little rivalry with them playing Top Golf.  Last year, we whooped them but good.  This year, it was turn around fair play for them and they whooped us.  Here were some of the many fun moments we had that evening.

Mother Day Fun

Kathryn flew down to Texas as a surprise for both me and Kylie Mother's Day.  And we had such a great time!! We all went to breakfast, they had pedicures and manicures, we went shopping and to pick up our new glasses.  Madi spent every moment she could with Kathryn and they bonded even more than they had before.  It was such a beautiful weekend filled with so many good memories.

Candid Moments

My four precious grandchildren.

This is How He Rolls

Del works from home.  So perfect - and what a blessing that he gets to.
Del is a financial analyst for EMC - they make BIG deals - millions - hundreds of millions - billions and ten's of billions.  This is a moment when Del was multi - tasking.  He was in the middle of doing a multi billion dollar deal while also doing some yard work.  He found himself in the garage
looking for a certain tool to use when obviously the conversation became serious enough that he needed to sit down and focus- and he took the first seat he could find: his mothers electric wheel chair.
Seem appropriate enough, don't you think?

Welcome to my Porch.

A feed came up on my facebook page that it has been five years since we found and bought our home.  So, to celebrate, I decided to finally decorate my front porch.  Yes, this is how my home will now welcome our visitors and those who come to our home.  I like it.  It's warm and inviting  And I already had most everything except the rug and the pillows.  I didn't have to invest much money at all which makes it all the more better...is that even correct grammar?  Is for me.
Welcome to my Porch.

One of the Girls is Holding Out

I don't know how she finds this acceptable.

Let's Flamingle!!!

We had a fun fun baby shower for Lexi where we had a great turn out of family and friends from the ward - great turn out.  And she got several great gifts and plenty of clothes for this little baby for at least a years worth of time.  I loved the support and love she got from so many sisters...