M to the O.D. & J to the P.A.

What happens in Vegas......

2010-03-15T21:58:00.001-06:00

We went to Vegas to watch Jayli play some rockin' SUU Softball!! Well, she was actually the first person on the team to get on base against the California Bears (ranked like 3rd in the nation!) It's pretty much an addiction.....us watching Jay play softball!!

Addi entertained everyone with her dance skills at the ballpark!! Then Mom, Jodi, & I were people watching at the hotel lounge on Saturday night......oh my!! I haven't laughed that hard for a long time!! Everyone was at least 10-20 yrs older than us, NO ONE had their real hair, and lets just say the dance moves and the groovin' style demonstrated how much EtOH they drank that night!! Jodi was asked out by a guy who looked like Keanu Reeves in "Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure", I was asked to learn to play a new type of poker, and we were ALL offered several drinks!! All in all - the band was fab, and the laughs were loud!! We even got a little dancing in.......just had to dodge the creepy staring guy : /

Loved spending time with The Fam!! To top it off, we had a fried oreo sunday at Serendipity.....mmmmmmhhhhhh yeahhh!

Addi, Shalene, Jayli, Mom, Me

Sistahs! Jo & Me

Addi - Jay - Me - Shalene

Addi LOVES Aunt Jay

.....but by the end of the trip, she loved me too!

....and she like the animals!

Addi & her Mama

Hands

2010-03-01T21:04:00.003-07:00

So the topic of discussion lately has been HANDS.......namely the SIZE of people's HaNdS. Everyone knows their shoe size, but do you know your hand size?? If you work in an operating room, or have any other reason to wear sterile gloves, you know what I am talking about. For everyone else.......what size do you think your hands are???

Mine are 6.5

According to some surgeons, their hands are appropriate for what they do.......I'll let you all figure that one out.....

I have the smallest hands in my family, even with the girls, but I think my sister's hands are appropriate for their height & shoe size.

My Grandpa Blood has HUGE hands, and his children do also, in addition to a number of grandchildren (my cousins).......and sometimes they don't fit the body type - but I think that is awesome!!

I like big hands, long fingers, wide fists, and the strength that they exhibit!!

Mark is always so fascinated that my hands are so much smaller than his.....I kind of love that too. ;)

So what size are your hands??

You don't have to use a number, but you can if you know it??

Or use your own creative way to describe them.....

hAnDs are more than just a size.....they tell you much more about a person.....

What do your hands say about you?

For my learning enjoyment.......

2010-02-17T22:00:00.003-07:00

Today was a busy day, but good all around. I bounced back and forth between 2 operating rooms (ORs) today, one surgeon evacuating a subdural hemorrhage (bleeding between the dura and the brain)....and the other surgeon clipping an aneurysm in a big artery in another brain.

InCrEdIbLe!!

For being a good little PA, and paying attention to the clock......I got a souvenir....

an ANEURYSM CLIP!!!!

They use a temporary clip on the vessel leading to the aneurysm to reduce the pressure while they put permanent clips on the neck of the aneurysm......and then they take the temp clips off......

and then I got to keep one....

OK - so maybe this isn't that exciting for the rest of you......but I was excited - ha ha!

So if you had surgery, and they removed something.......would you want to keep it????

Bright & Shiny

2010-01-28T20:38:00.003-07:00

So I know the last post was kind of a depressing reality check........a reminder that life's not fair.....

Here's an update that will show you my job is not all dark and twisty heartbreak:

Since I only work in the hospital, I don't see anyone for follow-up. Therefore, I don't know how they are doing unless one of my docs or their NP's tell me. There was a young guy, in his 20s, that had a nasty wreck on his longboard (NO helmet). This resulted in 2 craniotomies and severe traumatic brain injury. He left the ICU to go to an LTAC (an acute, advanced nursing facility) and I honestly didn't think he was going to wake up. We had to remove 6 cm of his brain because it herniated - when he left he didn't open his eyes and only moved his arms/legs spontaneously......and his Mom was always there, never giving up, rejoicing in every little advancement he made, exhibiting incredible patience when we told her over and over that time will tell his outcome...

Today, Dave, who works in the office sent me a text that said he just saw this longboarder walk into his office.......awake.........talking..........back to life!!!

This canceled out all the dark and twisty I have seen for weeks!!

Hope you felt the warm & fuzzies too =)

Time.......

2010-01-25T21:25:00.002-07:00

Wow! It has been a while since I posted on here eh?? Sometimes I feel like my posts need pics, but then I remind myself I can always find an appropriate pic on line!!

New Years has past, and there are a number of things I want to do this year.........yet because of the patients I have seen recently......I have been reliving the past!! I knew when I took this job, there was going to be a lot of sad and heart wrenching circumstances, and thus far the position is yet to disappoint. Lately though, I have been seeing a bunch of 18-20 year olds who have experienced a devastating event, obliterating their senior year in high school as they know it -- or changing their lives forever!

-A Cheerleader relearning to walk - getting over the fact her hair is only 1/2 an inch long, and that her biggest triumph this week was wiggling her toes.....

-A State Champion Wrestler, who was "kicking butt" this season, top of his game in his weight, in incredible physical form, who now is trying to regain strength and mobility in his whole right 1/2 of his body. He can still get the chicks though!! Ha ha - such a flirt!

-An outgoing rodeo cowgirl, returning from her first job at a State Fair - now will never walk, and is hoping for ANYTHING (except the crazy nerve pain she currently has) below her waist.

-A 20 y/o cowboy, bull rider, working hard, caught up in the little nuances that seem to overwhelm life - and now is fighting to regain function in his lungs so he can also work on ANYTHING he can get back below his waist -- right now....not so much.

At this time during my senior year: I was getting ready for state drill team competition, trying out for the All State Team, looking forward to every basketball game, every dance, stressing about getting ready for Sterling Scholar, looking forward to spring, softball, and not having to worry about anything after Drill Team tryouts. We took 2nd in State Softball my senior year.....all this would have been soooooo insignificant if I suddenly couldn't walk, squeeze my boyfriends hand, or even wiggle my own toes.........

So what were you doing your senior year??? The summer after high school??? And what would you have done had any of this happened to you?? Makes you think huh?

Festivus!! The celebration begins....

2009-12-23T20:27:00.007-07:00

The McKell Family Christmas Party.......food, family, presents, and lights!

Still getting the cheat grass/fox tails out of my scarf & coat - but all in all.....a good time!

Good to see everyone there!

The Berretts

Clint & Melissa

Mike & Kandalyn, with Alli checkin the tree in the background

Ashley & Tanner

Si, Brandon, & Brian

Brandon, Sarah & Me

Brandi, Dallen, Tyler, Si, & Clint

Boyd, Nate, Landon, & Barbara

Me, Boyd, Nate

Alli, Mark, Grandpa Berrett

Merry Christmas 2009!!!

The List Returns!

2009-11-27T20:48:00.000-07:00

How to stay out of the trauma bay:

1. Don't forget you put up an electric fence - otherwise you might run into it with your 4-wheeler at 45 mph.

2. Remember - if it sounds a little crazy to jump your motorbike off a huge home-made ramp for a youtube video.......it IS crazy! Unless you think that 4 broken limbs, broken jaw & face, and subsequent stroke 2/2 vertebral artery dissection sounds like "not a big deal" to you!

3. If you're skinning an elk, don't put a freezer underneath you. Use pillows instead - then when you fall off the ladder you get a soft landing.

4. If you're manic, and haven't slept in 7 days, don't drive your shaggin' wagon any further with your crazy wife- even if you're trying to get to Cali for some medical marijuana! Just stay in Kentucky-I'm sure they grow it there.

5. Don't try to jump out of a golf cart while it's moving - you might just fall on your head! (btw - this was a young guy folks - you are not invincible!).

6. If you have spinal stenosis - don't be a cage fighter! (unfortunately, that's not a typical screening in those oh so thorough sports physicals we get).

7. If you're over the age of 65, do NOT get on any ladder, roof, or scaffolding! I know this is a repeat - but I see this like 2x per week. Oh, and the guy that went off the roof was younger - like 45 - you're not invincible.

8. Don't pass a car on the double yellow line....there are reasons for this.

9. Don't long board w/o a helmet - just avoid long boarding all together.

10. Avoid hitting cows with your car.

Number 10 is a personal reminder.....I actually avoided the trauma bay even though my little Civ split 2 black cows standing in the middle of the highway, in the dark. I'm missing both my mirrors, and my front passenger end is a little smushed - but overall I was very fortunate. Definitely something to be grateful for this weekend!! Also, grateful for my incredible brother who made my car driveable by taking all the mangled plastic off the wheel well. He and my Dad are AWESOME!!! Oh btw the cows didn't die either - I backed up the car and checked. One just got a smack to the head and the other a spank on the rear!! All I could think is how embarrassed I would be when they tranferred me to Utah Valley and I met the surgeons or Trauma PAs that I work with - and then tell them that I hit a cow!

If you have any others to add to the list - feel free! I welcome all recommendations!

Black Out

2009-10-31T22:11:00.002-06:00

The UTES were a little scary on Halloween

but pulled it out against the Cowboys in the end!

Happy Halloween!

Showing the BlAcKoUt support!

This is Jodi & I last week at the game against Air Force!

GO UTES!

60,000 Wins????

All in all - good times in College Football!

Halloween Festivus

2009-10-24T19:58:00.002-06:00

On Oct 24th, there was a Halloween/Birthday Party at the condo for Alli, who turned 2 on the 17th of this month. There was food, family, and lots of games....including a mummy wrap (see below) It was good to see everyone and the kids had another reason to wear their costumes! On the other hand, I didn't know the adults were dressing up - so I had some arm tats and some black make-up left over from last year....and the rest is just from my closet. Improv at its finest! Then Clint & Melissa showed up with costumes to match! It all worked out! = )

The Rockers

Grandpa McKell & Me - I think he was a little freaked out!

The Mummy Wrap

My Team was the BEST! We WON!

Shout out to: Melissa, Grandma Christiansen, & Steve (John's Dad)

The Winters (clockwise): Taking us back to the big hair era - Clint & Melissa, Dora II (Sarah), The Ninja (Devin), Diego (Tyler), and The Dodger's MLB Star (Nate)

Kent Bumstead & Barbara as Jack Sparrow

Deer Hunt in Angle

2009-10-18T22:11:00.000-06:00

You can always find my family in Angle during the deer hunt! There used to be more of us - but with the draw and just all of us growing up - it has become less and less. We were excited to see everyone there this year!!! All in all, it was a good time!

My fam, with Jayli, Jodi, and John & Shalene & Addi.

The babies: Addi & Khloe (with the pink bow)

The kiddos! In the top Left corner: Kale, Kalese, Tucker, & Cam. Cam would get in football stance and run across the room when you said "hike" and then throw the football! Loved it!

The kids with Grandpa & Grandma! Kale @ the top R, and Kalese & Kesler with me.

The Great Hunters! Jayli & John, then Mark; Uncle Kerry, Brett, Brook, & Brandon; then Kaden, Kes, John & Brook in bottom L.

Deer Hunt 2009

To family: if I spelled your child's name wrong - I apologize in advance! Love ya!

Friday Night Lights

2009-10-10T02:45:00.006-06:00

We went to Salem Hills Homecoming Game tonight! The Skyhawks WON, 29-22 against Payson.......and we had some nostalgic moments. We watched the game from Mark's "toy truck" - the '77 F100 with a huge lift, tires, and gigantic engine....just what he wanted in high school. Just in case you're wondering.....no we didn't go park and make out afterwards ; ) we went to Sizzler with Mark's parents & Grandpa - I think we are getting old!

The Friday Night Lights Pic

Go Skyhawks!

I love that show!

Us - proof we were there!

The Fam, a new do, and some "spiritual" toes!

2009-09-30T10:00:00.000-06:00

Since I had some time off - I went to Cedar to spend a little bit of it with The Fam. Fortunately - I got to see everyone while I was there! Addi was entertaining - along with her parents = ), Jodi did my hair & toe nails (she has mad skills!), and Jayli is learning what it's like to be a college freshman, work, and a collegiate athlete all at the same time! She played left field in a double header the Fri. after I left - and did excellent (darn paperwork - had to go home)!

Addi & Me

When she gets excited, like when she sees her Daddy - she pulls this face & quivers! So cute!

Jayli and I look enough alike that we confused Addi! She kept looking back & forth at us when we talked, & couldn't figure out why "her Aunt Jay" didn't talk the same. Super funny to watch!

The Fam (clockwise from left):

Jodi, Jayli, Mom, John & Addi, and Dad (after "The Bish" night)

The toes with loads of team spirit!

GO UTES!

btw - Jodi free-handed these toes, I just showed her the emblem on the internet.....and just in case you can't tell, those are footballs on my 3rd toe. Luv it!

Jami Z. McKell, PA-Celebration!

2009-09-19T02:52:00.006-06:00

If there are any loyal blog readers still out there after I have neglected it for some time.....you may be pleased to know I am back! I just finished my certification exam on Tuesday, .....found out I PASSED it on Thursday......and accepted the job I REALLY wanted on Wednesday! We have been celebrating all week! I don't think Mark has gone out to eat this many days in a row for years! Well, Thurs. was also Grandpa McKell's 91st Birthday - so we had lots of reasons to celebrate! Just in case you haven't heard.......I accepted an inpatient position at Utah Valley Regional Medical Center with their Neurosurgery Service, primarily working with Dr. Howard Reichman, as well as Dr. Gardner and Dr. Gaufin. I am soooooo excited - but nervous too! If you know me well....you know I haven't worked much at all in neurosurgery, so this will be a steep learning curve for me! However, I get to learn from some incredible neurosurgeons, with no interns, residents, or fellows in the way! This is a new position at this hospital - and I won't be working in their clinic like some of their established NPs. Eventually, I will be the face you see when you come into the hospital with a head or spine injury -- watch out! I am so fortunate to be able to learn from an incredible surgeon, and that he was willing to take a new grad & be my mentor!

I do not possess the most esteemed degree or position in the family (especially one including an eye doctor, dentists, lawyers, and numerous other graduate and incredibly difficult bachelor's and technical degrees), but I think I do win the contest for the most letters after my name. If I write everything out it reads: Jami Z. McKell, PA-C, MPAS, MT (ASCP), BS. I don't get paid as much as the O.D.'s, the D.D.S.'s and such, but hey - I will graciously accept my own letter award! Oh, if any of my family members read this....and I'm wrong....I will rightfully give up any honors I may have received! Ha ha!

Sorry about the blog neglect - I have been graduating & studying - well...kinda. Please scroll down later to view what has been happening since I graduated from school!

Celebrity siting: The Organ-izer

2009-08-19T21:21:00.007-06:00

Being that I have the most excellent driving skills ;-) I took Grandpa McKell to see a concert by Seth Rye, the most popular organist in the world! Since Grandpa has connections with the Lowrey Organ people, they invited him to this extra special concert at the Sleepy Ridge Golf Course Clubhouse. Grandpa was pretty excited, and the golf course was beautiful! I pretty much planned on studying throughout the whole thing, but then we were seated on the front row and I was actually quite captivated by Mr. Rye's skills. Plus, I let him borrow my pen to sign a CD cover, and was referred to frequently throughout the performance. He is extremely talented, and interacts with his audience as he performs. He was acclaimed the most popular entertainer by Keyboard World Magazine, has over 30 albums, and he is the "featured artist" on the Disney Magic Album. If any of you have seen the Disney Light Parade, this guy played the organ for ALL of the music during the parade.....and he played it for us (with a video) on Tuesday. I think Grandpa and I were the oldest & youngest people in the room of over 160 people. Everyone was fascinated that he will be 91 next month (and he kept telling them, so cute!). Enjoy the pics! They are a little crazy because they were taken on my phone (so G'pa is missing some of his head in one d/t the lighting).

Seth Rye, Me, Grandpa McKell

Seth & Grandpa

Seth showing Grandpa ALL the buttons/sounds

For all you organ enthusiasts: www.sethrye.com

Graduation.....for REAL!

2009-08-09T21:58:00.006-06:00

Graduation + Utah Football = Happiness

We made it!

It's a bittersweet feeling......I'm so happy to be done, but I will miss seeing all my friends! We have been through a lot together, and they all did an excellent job conveying our experiences at graduation. The awards were well deserved, and there were many people who prepared a little speech after they received their diploma (I forgot they even expected us to say anything!). Thanks for all the neverending support, encouragement, and endurance from my family and friends! I really appreciate those who came to the graduation, and I am most impressed that Grandpa McKell was able to set foot in the Univ. of Utah FB stadium. Graduation was held in the conference/press room on the 6th floor of the Eccles Colosseu...loved it! I especially want to thank and express my love for my long-suffering husband Mark......he has gone to bed without me for countless number of nights, sat next to me on the couch & made me productive when I thought it was impossible to focus, answered my text eye consults during his busy day, cleaned, cooked, washed, repaired, maintained EVERYTHING, all while seeing his own patients 5 days a week, working on his own business/office, and maintaining the farm! Incredible!

What's next? I will take my boards in about a month, and start more actively pursuing a job a little closer to where we live.....I'm done commuting!

Once again, thanks everyone for being there when I most needed them!

Family

(see other grad post for additional members)

Friends!

Couldn't have made it w/o 'em!

P.S. More pics to come when I get a hold of my mother-in-law's camera and get those up here! Stay tuned.....

Here it goes......

2009-08-04T00:39:00.004-06:00

I am obviously not the most diligent blogger......but I am going to attempt to catch up a little bit. There will be stuff inserted in the proper order....eventually. So if anyone actually reads this, you may want to scroll down after reading the latest for previous stuff you haven't seen yet. I hope this is not too confusing. Plus, I'm not sure where my camera is......I need to get a new one. Here we go....

The New Kids on the Block

2009-08-01T16:00:00.000-06:00

I have been spending some time with the newest niece and nephew lately, reminding them who their Favorite Aunt is........ Addi is my lil bro's adorable little girl, and Tanner is Ashley's (Mark's sister) lil guy, he is the newest addition to the family. I just wanted to show them off! Addi is almost 7 months old now, and Tanner is just a few days shy of 3 months. I start teaching them that I am favorite aunt while they're very young..... Enjoy their cute lil smiles!

Addilyn Shay Zingelman

Tanner Steven Christiansen

Note: some of these pics are a kind of stolen off their parent's blog......just thought I would credit the original authors. The not so good quality ones are from my phone =0).

Got another one!

2009-07-18T00:44:00.001-06:00

In July, we went camping at Scofield Reservoir with "our kids" and our new friends. The girls are Graceie and Abby, who live next to our office in Salem. They have latched onto Mark, and this is actually the second time we have camped with them. Their brothers were unable to go.....but I'm sure there'll be a a next time. Gracie had some crazy fishing skills, and caught 2 fish, and had 2 bites that got away. Alex & Marianna are the other 2 kiddos in the pics. They belong to the Briones, who did the railing at the office. Their Dad has some excellent welding skills.....just do a drive by our office & you will see. They had never been camping, so they went with us. I have a pic of them on my camera, but I haven't found it yet.....Anyway, we had some excellent salsa, cooked hamburgers and tube steak on a large piece of metal, and had our own salsa dancing party around the fire at night! Jealous? I'm sure you are.....you're all invited next time!

A decade......

2009-05-29T22:03:00.007-06:00

The McKells

Established May 29, 1999

So this post has been pending for......about a month. The limiting factor was that we were married long enough ago that I had to scan the pics into the computer. Still, 10 yrs warrants a blog post, even if it is late.

We have been married for 10 whole years! I can't believe how life has changed since then.....we were married in the 90s! I blacked out in at the St. George Temple in the rose garden, and would have hit the pavement, but Mark had his arms around me. That's what happens when it's 98 degrees outside & I didn't eat much for breakfast. I was just 19 yrs old, by 2 wks.....crazy!

Over the past 10 yrs, we have lived in 5 cities, 3 states, and 6 different residences. I am so fortunate to have all the opportunities, adventures, and time together with Mark. I would not be where I am now without the route we have taken together! Love you babe!

So I know Mark & I look a little different, but I think the best way to demonstrate how many years have passed is in the pics of our families & friends at the wedding. Look at my little sisters, they were just little girls then! Things to note in the pics below: Devin is incubating in Melissa's belly, Brian's wearing white socks, Mike is on his mission, and Clint looks like he's lifting 500 lbs! This is like flashback & wedding celebration....Enjoy!

Graduation Festivus!

2009-05-25T22:01:00.000-06:00

We did it!

Well....JAyLi did it, I am almost there! Jayli graduated from CVHS on May 22nd, 2009! She earned tonz of awards, including Female Student Athlete, Merit Scholar, a Scholarship from SUU, and a few others I cannot remember.

We are sooo proud of her!

I had what I call "Pseudo-Graduation". The marvelous PA-S's of the UPAP program are all part of the School of Medicine, therefore, we attended the school of medicine graduation on May 23rd. It is the formal graduation with hooding, mortar boards, and tassels. However, I don't actually graduate until August 7th, 2009.....2 months to go! I had excellent family support, and all the PA-S friends were there for the fun! Enjoy the pics, more to come when I get others from my PA-S peeps.

HaPpY gRaDuAtIoN!

Go UtEs!

Happy Birthday Dad!

2009-05-24T22:30:00.001-06:00

HaPpY bIrThDaY

R. Scott Zingelman!

May is a great month for Birthdays, including my Dad's! I love him so much & appreciate all he does for the family & for others! This pic is an excellent personification of mi padre: camouflage, worn levi's, a sneaky hat, and remote in hand. Things I love about my dad:

1. Sacrifice: Dad has a teaching degree, but chose to be a hard-working UPS man in order for Mom to stay home. Still working hard....he's lookin' forward to retirement.

2. No limitations: Everything they told my dad he couldn't do with his hand, he does! He shoes horses, plays all kinds of sports, rocks a 10 key, hunts, and you should watch the way he ties his shoes & buttons his shirts.....if we all were so efficient! So he can't type, but honestly, I don't think he wants to.....he has Mom to do it =0).

3. The fab husband: Dad always compliments Mom, and all the kiddos, as well as others around him. He gets flowers for holidays when Mom tells him not to, and goes out of his way to support her. Us kids have never been so in trouble as when we disrespected my mother! He is also very good at dancing in the kitchen!

4. Example: Dad chose church over milking the cows 1 more day a week as a kid, and now has evolved into the Bishop of his ward! He devotes a lot of time serving people in all ways!

5. Trivial: My Dad knows all kinds of random information! He loves informational programs & can name just about any song & artist in the 70s. I luv it!

6. The Family Man: Dad tries his hardest to make it to all our events. At my graduation, he & mom had been up all night at Jayli's Grad night, and they still made it up here. He also has always put us first, getting our deer 1st on the hunts, and always giving of his precious time to us first. Not to mention all his earnings goes to the family, and then his "stash" is the money he earns on the side from shoeing horses (and I have seen him give that up!).

7. There is so much more.........I could go on & on...........

LUV YOU DAD!

Finally, another lil guy!

2009-05-12T22:32:00.005-06:00

Tanner Christiansen

Joined the privileged folks in Tulsa, OK on Cinco de Mayo

May 5, 2009

8 pounds 6 ozs. 21 and 1/2 inches long

Congrats John-o & Ashley, & Alli!

After the string of delightful & beautiful little girls, Sarah, Alli, Kandalyn, & Brianna, we are excited to have Tanner mix it up! I can't wait to meet my new nephew this weekend.....he will soon find out who is the FaVoRiTe AuNt!

They are going to let her graduate....

2009-05-12T00:48:00.004-06:00

Jayli Zingelman is graduating from

Canyon View High School this year!

I cannot believe she had grown up so much. She was just a little girl when I got married, and cried when we left the reception because she didn't understand why she couldn't go with us. I am super proud of the lil sis! I can only think of 1 sport in which she actually played on a freshman team ever, she has always played JV/Varsity in Volleyball & Softball, even when she was a freshman. She works hard to maintain some killer grades, and earned a position on the Academic All-State Team in softball. And to top it all off.....she's genuinely beautiful, it's not just on the outside.

Congrats Jay! We love you!

Mother's Day....should be every day

2009-05-12T00:14:00.006-06:00

Mothers.....fascinating creatures that put others before themselves, serve endlessly, and do it with such grace through fire! My last post illustrated all that my mom does for us. Here is the product of all her hard work:

Oh, and don't forget Addi....she loves her G'ma!

Hope everyone had a Happy Mother's Day!

You deserve it!

Happy Birthday Mom! Getting younger every day...

2009-04-23T17:58:00.005-06:00

I am a few days late posting this.....but Happy Birthday Mom!! Her birthday was on April 21st, and like the devoted mother, she spent the day cheering for Jayli's softball team while watching Addi. She is amazing! I have pushed the delete button on the same sentence at least 5 times because I want to find the right words to express what an incredible mother she is.

My Mom does so much:

1. Works as an EMT for Iron Co. Ambulance

2. Tends Addi & luvs it!

3. Cheers/stresses at all Jayli's sporting events (there's lots of 'em).

She also attended everything the rest of us kids participated in....this is just a current list.

4. Helps with homework

5. Is the Bishop's wife, which includes mucho time on the computer cuz Dad isn't computer friendly.

6. Feeds us

7. Takes G'ma & G'pa to doctor appointments, & spent lots of time at the hospital them lately

8. Does the routine housework that takes tonz of time & energy, e.g. laundry, dishes, cooking, cleaning, organizing, financial planning, balancing the checkbook, etc.

9. She fixes things.....stuff around the house you would ask your husband to do: plumbing, electric, you name it!

10. She has just the right amount of push......what I mean is that all our lives, my mom has figured out what each kid's strengths, weaknesses, and potential, and then pushes us to be our best without making us feel like we aren't good enough. It's kind of hard to explain.... Sure, she does worry, sometimes a lot, but that's cuz she luvs us....you just have to talk her off the edge sometimes.

I could go on and on, but she would probably like it if I stopped!

Happy Birthday Mom!

AbLaTiOn

2009-04-13T20:52:00.003-06:00

So this Easter Weekend I spent some quality time in Utah Valley Medical Center. Hopefully all the "bad spells" my Grandma Blood has been experiencing have been resolved. My Mom couldn't be there with Grandma Blood, so I spent time being her eyes and ears and translating the medical verbiage. Uncle Brian took care of Grandpa, and I stuck around for the details & tried to ease some of my Mom's worries (though I don't think it helped much). So late Friday night, Grandma endured 3 hours of aBlaTiOn in her atria, performed by Dr. Hwang. For those of you who don't know what that is: they insert a catheter into her heart, and cauterize small points in her heart in order to create a scar & stop the crazy cells from firing out of order. Poor Grandma had been through a lot, trying to capture some reason for her feeling so badly. She had been in and out of the hospital several times during the past few months, and hopefully we have found a solution.

This is the reason for the featured videos of G'ma & G'pa bustin' some sweet moves! While viewing the short films, Grandma was giggling so much I thought she was going to fall off the hospital bed! Fortunately that did not happen.

After a short stay at the Blood Ranch Assisted Living Center (for reservations call Aunt Cathy), Grandma & Grandpa returned home to Angle, UT today. Awaiting them were the eager arms of her great-grandkids who missed her so much!

I think that's the best Easter gift ever: Home and Family......but chocolate and Cadbury eggs are a close second!

2009-04-10T23:50:00.001-06:00