Two in One Day!

It published my title before I could write anything, so if you were confused, that's why (you have an excuse now :). I wanted to add some details to my last post: for instance, I also trimmed my hair this a.m., ate sliced oranges, Mark went to the movies with Keith (I went with Mark last night), and Seth made Leto a frozen peanut butter treat in his Kong toy that Seth gave him. I thought dogs wouldn't like it frozen, but it's suggested and it worked! Good! Megan and Brooks have to buy a new furnace/central air unit - I feel for you guys! I got a postcard from Haley with a little Hunter on the front! Thank y0u! That was so fun to get! Mark has his music playing, his own downloads off iTunes and Napster, and I really love hearing all those great songs. It's just after 4:30 p.m. now, just getting darker outside. I'm sitting on one of the pillows we made from our memory foam mattress (order California King for a Queen size bed - that gives you enough extra to cut pillows off). This new pillow thing is because my wheelchair pad is worn out and doesn't cushion enough. Hope to get new cushion and wheelchair in a couple of weeks. And it won't be soon enough!! Owee!! And that's all I know about that! Love You. xoxoxo PS Oh my goodness, Tom Jones is singing "Without Love." I'm a puddle of mush! Ooh, now it's the Righteous Brothers singing "Unchained Melody," which is our song! I'm going to die! Oh no! Now Karen Carpenter is singing "All of My Life." I give up, I'm just going to close now. Take Care, and don't listen to romantic music if you want to get any serious work done; if you're like me, I get so lovesick. It's crazy!

Hay, Y'All!

What's up? We's one-third up, so to say. I'm up, the two other humans are still asleep. And of course, Leto's up and already went outside to run around before it's light (once it's light, he has to go out and come right back in). Sneaky, huh? Leto has taught me the value of routine. Being a Shepherd Dog, he loves routine, whatever it is. Just so it's pretty much the same all the time. That includes getting exactly two treats at a time. His comings and goings are attuned to ours, even on a weekly basis. And he knows when we pull into our old neighborhood that we're going to Danny and Melinda's (btw, I hear that all is going well with Justin's move, the kids are delirious about him being there, and he starts at Quest this next week : ). I could go on about Leto's love of routine, and how it makes it easier for him to keep track of us, etc., but you get the idea. And by being in a routine with Leto, I've started living with routines and they're very comforting! I wake up around 7 a.m. and turn the c-pap machine off. I let Leto out. Then I read some scriptures, sometimes the same verse, several days in a row if it's interesting, pray, comb my hair, brush my teeth, wash my face (!), get dressed, take my morning pills, and so on. Sometimes I take a bath in the mornings, sometimes not. I don't take my shot until 9 a.m., so I come over and quietly turn the computer on (Mark is a light sleeper). I check email and blogs and so forth, and sometimes blog myself, after checking comments on my last post. If it's a weekday, my aide brings me my plain oatmeal with raisins. It's really gloppy, but satisfying. I ask her to boil the raisins first, so that they're nice and fat. Then I take my insulin and Jasmine comes in and disturbs me. By now, Mark and I have visited, he's fixed us Reliv, and he's left for work. On the weekends, like today, Mark tries to sleep in till 8:30 or so. Like now. He just got up and said something about "rudoodoos." I don't know what that is, but it sounds really funny when he says it. Now he's running bath water. I'll continue with weekdays: So, Seth gets up and we talk while I look at things, the aide comes in for a bit, and I usually make a couple of phone calls. Then, I'll go to my favorite game and play it, and I'll get some phone calls. Seth will talk to me more, Jasmine is still disturbing me, but actually, she's been sitting on my lap. I remind Seth of his chores, if he's home - I should say, lots of times he goes to work in the morning. But, to all the robbers and rapists out there, Leto is here with me, plus I know karate and there are hidden booby traps and things in our house and yard, so stay away! Okay. Then I turn on the television around 2 p.m. and listen to talk shows while talking on the phone or playing on the computer (if I'm reading, I don't like to have the noise). I've accepted the fact that I'm going to be either sitting around or lying around, and I finally don't expect myself to get up and so something. That's a huge step (no pun intended) forward for me. (Now Mark came over and said, "Um, who are you talking of it?" I told him my blog, and he said, "Try not to have a blog." He's so silly! Now Jasmine came in (I told you), and Mark said, "Here's stupid cat." And he means it. Now she's on my lap, now my shoulders, but I'll make her sit. Now she's sitting, and I'm wrapped in a blanket, so she likes that. She tries to get upon my shoulders again. Then she's down, half-sitting. That's how it goes for awhile. So, back to my exciting routine! Mark comes home around 5:30 p.m. By that time, it's dark again. He gets us something to eat (usually a dinner for me. These are frozen, one container meals that are sent to me once a month. Very helpful! Mark likes to have tuna fish. We usually watch some tv or a movie together. He does laundry and picks things up on his way home (especially medicines), and helps me with whatever I'm doing. Sometimes I'm on the computer while we watch things, others not. And half the time he'll go on another computer himself. He does work and play, mixed, even on the computer. He does a lot. Of course, our days are full of things like a nurse coming by, taking care of pets, visiting teaching, home teaching, going to the movies at times, church, making things when it's not too cold in the house, Enrichment mtgs., doing Primary homework, giving rides, checking my blood pressures or having some test or whatever, some letter writing, family occasions, holidays, and on and on. Those are the main variables. Other than that, I do some tests and shots, take my night time pills (around 9 p.m.) and my night time insulin, and go to bed around 10:30 or eleven, turn on the c-pap, put my mask on, and then the Simpsons come on and I say, "We're watching cartoonies!" and I promptly fall asleep. Now you know about my days. What do you think? Does it sound fun? Is it boring? Am I lazy? (I'd do more physically, but I drop everything. Really.) I need some feedback, to help me know if I'm lazy or whatever. Well I don't really NEED it, but it would be fun to hear your reactions. :) And so, thank you for you kind attention, and goodbye! xoxoxo

Whoa...The Sun is Out!

Hi! The snow is melted and the sun is out, maybe for an hour or so. The sunshine feels so warm on my back, and Leto is lying down in it. I have Jasmine and Tut shut out today. : ) I am sooo sleepy lately. I fell asleep in my chair. I'm listening to the Bonnie Hunt show, and Jasmine is now on my lap and Leto moved as the sunlight moved. He's pretty bored right now; I never do anything very exciting. Leto loves it when the UPS guy leaves a box: He senses the man's murderous intentions and reacts accordingly. I've seen the man drop a box here and RUN to his truck, before I could open the door and let Leto out. Poor guy. Leto, despite his huge, echoing bark, would probably lick him to death. Wait - maybe that is what the guy is afraid of. No wonder! Okay, let's see...we haven't gone to the movies for a while. I subtly discourage it, because the total cost is so much, if you buy any popcorn. Usually, we take Seth. I enjoy it, and I love the popcorn and the whole experience; it's the only thing we go out and do together, besides attending church functions, but it has to be a special movie to be worth it to me. On the other hand, we see some excellent DVDs at home, through Netflix. We saw Ink the other day, because Mark watched it online and loved it. We all thought it was great, if you mute the language in the first minute, and skip the boardroom scene. It is a wonderful movie, so look it up and learn more about it. Parts are scary, so I wouldn't watch it with little kids. It has a great theme and lessons throughout, and is very innovative. Isn't this fascinating? Ah know! Well, I'm done for now. My hair has fallen in my face and I'm too lazy to push it back. Ah know! . xoxoxo

Helloooo!

I'm sitting here, with my Mary Engelbreit quilt over my head, while Mark irons his shirt for the day. Just want to say, I really enjoy reading your blog posts, people. :) When you get hard copies, better xerox the pages and send them to each other to keep (I guess 'scan' them is the modern term). Or I guess you could just download them right from the computer and mail a cd of them for safekeeping. That's the ticket! (Probably by next week, a new product will be out, that just vacuums out your head and downloads it directly to your blog - but it would have to be edited, I'm sure, before publishing, even on private blogs. Lol.) I'll bet Justin's glad to have his big move over, and I wish him good luck in his Quest interview today. It's cool that Aiden got Legos from Ben, and a trunk is perfect for storing them. Your trunk, Megan, is just like the ones my Grandma Wakefield (Gray) always kept her keepsakes in. Wish I still had mine. Mark and Keith might go to Boise overnight tonight (uh oh, now all the robbers and rapists will know!). Or they might go up and back tomorrow, which I prefer. I don't like it without Mark here at night. It's not nearly as fun, and I won't sleep at all. :( I'll try and get some pictures on here, as soon as I take some! In the meantime, imagine Princess Diana at her loveliest, and you'll have a good idea of my appearance. For Mark, maybe Johnny Depp in the Pirates movies. Seth? Darth Vader. Until next time... xoxoxo

Winter's Peace

Here it is, another post. I know you all have been waiting on pins and needles for news from the Stephenson household! I can hardly believe it myself! Well, all the happenings seem to be in our kids' lives, not ours. I'm assuming that Justin made it up to I.F. safely, since I didn't get an emergency phone call. We'll give him a while to settle in, before I check on how it's going there. Melinda, be strong! (jk) Megan has a new dining room, Haley is in N. Orleans at just the right time (Go, Colts!) ;), and that's the latest that I know of. I'm delighted that nothing has happened here - it's the longest that things have been so quiet in our married life. : ) I love it! It gives me time to actually think and process things! The main thing I've processed is that we each have a gift (see Moroni 10), that we should lay hold of that gift, and that we are all made perfect through Christ, if we will accept that gift and have hope and faith. It's so simple. I feel so happy, as that soaks into my heart; I see others, then, in the same light, and I feel such love and joy. We have a real Father and Mother, we are brothers and sisters, and, despite the state of this existence and the sadness of sin and suffering, Christ can and will change everything. He does transform us. It's not our own doing. Letting go of worry and fear and leaning on Christ, letting him be our Savior and the Creator and the Savior of the world, our glorious brother who really has atoned for all our weaknesses, is the source of real and lasting joy. We perceive life in a different way, as it really is. The ability to have hope is something that can grow in us, if we pray for it daily and read the scriptures, even small, small portions of them. The important thing is to have an open heart and sincere desire to even want to read them. It's something that, if done daily, can bring peace to our souls. Just ask, if you haven't already. I'm so glad that things have been slow and quiet. I'm so glad for this winter's calm, and I hope that you are able to enjoy being inside, when it's cold outside. Have some cocoa! : ) xoxoxo

Monday, Monday

Hi, all! Let's see...what's been happening here? On Saturday Mark baked some bread - he's been reading his "The Breadmaker's Apprentice" and enjoying it. All three of us will go see a movie tonight, for Family Home Evening. I've been reading some. And that's about it! It's really cold outside, but comfortable in here. : ) I love that feeling, don't you? And that's all I 'member. So, take care and say your prayers! xoxoxo

Alive and Kicking in 2010!

Yes, I am still alive! Our computer had so many problems since Christmas, and we finally found out that our new phone base was too close to the modem! Crazy! I'm so glad that's fixed now...whew! We had a great Christmas: We went up to Danny and Melinda's for a few hours on Christmas Day, where Seth already was, and Haley and Dallin came there too. Everything was so quiet this season, and, although we had some great presents, that wasn't the major emphasis. Ben and Linda stopped by two days later, on their way home from Bancroft. The babies are getting so much bigger and they are developing personalities. What a cute bunch of grandkids we have! So I'll post some pictures later on. : ) Today we're just here, and it's cold! So I dress in layers, then put a sweater jacket on, and then my quilt over that. I pull my hood up and am pretty comfortable then. If I want, I can turn the heater up, but it's fun to snuggle up in the quilt, too. We found out that Justin is moving to Idaho Falls! Yay, Justin! That's great! Jasmine is still alive, and planted on my lap. Tut is so fat, he can be out all night long and not notice the cold! And Leto is happy, because Seth takes him on walks occasionally and plays with him. Seth is back at work at Burger King. His boss had thought he quit! So he's happy about have a job again, and his boss is soooo happy to have him back, too! Mark gets his first paycheck in almost a year, tomorrow I think! Yay for jobs! And I'm enjoying just being here. : ) Thanks for your patience with my blog, and Happy New Year! I'll review my last year's resolutions soon, on here. xoxoxo