More from Ohio...

Ok, I promised more stuff from our trip to Ohio.

Sorry it's taken me a couple of weeks. I DO have a fairly decent excuse.... I had what I hope will be my final surgery to clear my airway, last week. Keeping our fingers crossed, and we'll be sure to keep everyone posted!

So, we went to Ohio for my niece, Stephanie's, wedding. What we ended up having was a mini-family reunion. Some pieces of our family were missing, and sorely missed, but we had a great time with those who were there!

This was Thursday before the wedding.
Stephi's brother, Trevor came with his fiance, Annaliese (Liese)
So we have from left to right starting in the background:
Kevin, Liese, Jason (the groom), Charlie, Trevor (with his back to the camera) Me, with Jackie leaning on me, and in the very front... GUS-THE-WONDER-DOG!!!

Caline on the front porch with my girls

Charlie and Mandy on our way home from Kirtland
(More pictures of that excursion coming later)

10 years ago, Caline & I took a picture together in front of this barn!
It better NOT be 10 year 'til the next one!!! lol

Another set of sisters in front of the tobacco-barn
...silly sisters...

REALLY silly cousins

It was so much fun...I just have to say...
I LOVE my family!!!!

Eighteen Years ago...

...a miracle occured...

A truly courageous woman gave birth to a beautiful, tiny, dark-haired angel-girl. She called her "Sarah". This amazing woman had 24 precious hours with this little bundle of joy. During that time, she sang to 'Sarah' and told her the story of her (Sarah's) life, so far. 24 short hours later, this valiant, courageous woman generously gave 'Sarah' to the LDS Family Services adoption counselors. Who in turn handed her to me and Kevin.

Everyday, for the past eighteen years, I have thanked my Heavenly Father for the miracle we call Amanda. Everyday I have thanked my Heavenly Father for the selfless woman who gave her life and answered our prayers.

October 18, 2011 is Amanda's 18th Birthday. As we celebrate the wonderful young woman our daughter is becoming, I pray that her birth-mother will feel peace in knowing she did the right thing...and I pray that she has been blessed for the choice she made.

She certainly blessed our lives and I can never thank her enough.

Happy Birthday to my "Angel-Girl"! I'm so grateful I get to be your Mommy and so proud to call you my friend. I love you more than words can tell!!!

Ohio

We just got back from Ohio. I have SO many pictures to post, I've decided to start with the ones that directly apply to our reason for being in Ohio... The wedding of Stephanie Lauren Wozniak to Jason Hamilton.

If I had to describe the event in one word, it would be "HAPPY". When you see Jason and Stephi looking at each other, that's the first word that comes to mind. They look completely happy. It is lovely to see.

So, here are the pictures I have of the wedding and reception. Enjoy!

See what I mean?????

Me and two of my favorite women

My beautiful niece, Mrs. Hamilton

First dance as a married couple

Daddy/Daughter dance with her Daddy, Steve Wozniak

Daddy/Daughter dance with her step-Daddy, Charles Ruggles
(who also performed the marriage ceremony and did a fabulous job)

From the "Wish you were here..." table

Mother of the Bride (my sweet sis) Caline
and her sweetheart, Charlie.

Me and MY sweetheart, Kevin

The end for now. I have tons more pictures from other activities, but thought these were the most important. It was a wonderful, HAPPY time for all of us!

Congratulations, Mr. and Mrs. Hamilton!!!!!!!!!

...again, not for the squeamish...

Somehow "here we go again"...seems a little redundant, but really, here we go again. Maybe I should laugh since crying seems a little melodramatic.

On August 30, I had a follow-up appointment with the doctor who did my last bronchoscopy. Once again, they ran a scope down my airway and determined that the scar-tissue had come back and was obstructing my airway. This time however, my jaws had limbered up enough that they thought it would be possible to get the laser down to "laser-out" some of the scar tissue.

Surgery was scheduled for Tuesday, the 13th of September. Then they sent us home to wait for my surgery-date. Unfortunately, the scar tissue in my airway had different plans. Each day my breathing became more and more labored. Each day I could do less and less for myself and my family. Until finally when I woke up on Friday, September 9, 2011; I could hardly breathe at all. Kevin called Dr. Smith's office (he's the airway specialist), and told them what was going on. Kev was told to take me IMMEDIATELY up to Salt Lake City to the University of Utah Medical Center's emergency room, where Dr. Smith would see me.

Off we went, and ended up spending most of the day in the ER; while the staff did all they could to maintain my airway. Most of their efforts involved steroids with various forms of administration (ie: nebulizer treatments and through my IV). By the way, being treated with a large dosage of steroids is NOT something I recommend. My hands had more tremors than the "San Andreas fault"...it took hours for them to stop shaking.

Finally, in the evening, Dr. Smith got me into the Operating Room where they performed a laser bronchoscopy to eliminate some of the scar-tissue and open up my airway. Thankfully the treatment worked and I came out of it breathing much more freely; so they allowed me to go home that night.

Once again, they gave us some REALLY colorful pictures to show the results of my emergency surgery.... Here's where you want to stop reading if you have a low tolerance for graphic images...

The images on the far left are before surgery, so I was breathing through that little hole. The top center is after the laser-cuts were made. The bottom center is when the balloon was inserted and inflated to push the laser-cut scar-tissue out of the way. The bottom right is the swab with medication on it. The medication was to encourage the scar tissue NOT to come back. Top right picture is the finished product.









This was the first treatment. I have another surgery scheduled for October 18, 2011. If all goes well, that will be my last for this issue. However, they may need to do a final treatment a month after that, in order to get the last of the scar tissue out of the way. Hopefully after these last three procedures the scar tissue will not grow back; although that is always a possibility. UGH!!!

So, there you are...one more chapter in the saga of "Netty's Jaw Surgery with Complications"... This is sounding like a bad melodrama....I suppose we could finish this post with some ominous music...

DUN-DUN-DUUUUNNNNNN!!!!

Beginning of the end...

It seems like yesterday but was really 13 short years ago, I took my heart in my hands and saw my first "baby" off to school. Part of me felt like my heart would break. Part of me couldn't wait to hear about her adventures and new friends; or to see that first school year through her eyes.
Today I felt the same way.... Today was the first day of Amanda's last year of High School. Again, part of me feels as if my heart will break. Part of me can't wait to hear about her adventures and new friends; or to see the final year of High School through her eyes.

This year seems to be about beginnings and endings.

This year is also a beginning and ending for our Jackie. This week marked the start of Jackie's final year of Middle School. After this year, she will be a High School student. Again, I find myself torn between the bittersweet and being eager to see this experience from Jackie's unique perspective.

There go my babies...
taking wing and flying from the nest.

This day has come much quicker than I like. Still, I look back without regret and forward with eagerness to see what other adventures lie in store. Being "the Mom" has been the biggest adventure of my life. I wouldn't trade it for anything. Given all that is past, I can only look forward with anticipation for what lies ahead.

Let the adventures continue...

Hang onto your hats,

it's gonna be one heck of a ride!!!

We're jammin'

Saturday we drove up to Brigham City. We bought 10.67 pounds of cherries. Saturday night we sat around the kitchen table and pitted and stemmed all of them. Kev, Deb, Marc and I had the purple fingers to prove it...still do!

Today we made cherry jam and canned 20 pints!!! Two year ago we did this and messed up the recipe so badly that it didn't jell. It tasted GREAT on pancakes and waffles...but didn't do well on toast or PB&J's...

This time I think we did it right. The jars are still cooling off, but the jam looks like it's jellin' just fine! Yay! Guess it's true that practice makes perfect.

Next we're canning the bushel of apricots that we bought on our trip to Brigham City. Apricot jam, anyone?

We runned away!

Yesterday after we sent our children off to Youth Conference for our Church, Kevin and I decided it was time for the parents to run away from home. Being responsible (ok, SEMI-responsible) adults, we didn't run far. We did, however run to a place we've never been before.


We decided to explore another of Utah's beautiful canyons. This time, we went up into the foothills above Salt Lake City, into Immigration Canyon. It was just lovely.

On our way into the canyon, we came upon a little cafe called:

We decided to stop for dinner and were glad we did. The food was wonderful. Now, I am a fan of jazz music - generally speaking. However, I am NOT a fan of improvisational jazz. Unfortunately, we were seated at a table right under a speaker and the background music was jazz-improv. After about 15 minutes, we decided to brave the patio dining area (in spite of the rain) in the hopes that the music would be more background and less intrusive. It worked for awhile. Then they switched the music to a more blue-grass sound. I like blue grass music as well, and initially, this was very enjoyable. Until a woman started singing in what sounded like an oriental style...along with the original blue-grass singer! It became comical as Kevin and I struggled not to laugh too loudly. The kicker was when a third singer joined the first two. The new singer was singing what sounded like a Native American Indian chant. Kev and I decided that this was multi-cultural blue grass music. Asian/Apache/Blue grass, to be exact. It definitely added entertainment to our meal, just not the way the restaurant intended, I'm sure.

We finished our drive through the canyon, and enjoyed the gorgeous scenery accented by the thunderstorm that chased us home!

Could that last song have been a chant for rain???
(if so, it worked)