Slide Show

Christmas!

Christmas is my favorite time of year! I love the peacefulness of the early morn, when it seems like nothing is moving and nothing would dare disturb the silence and respect the day has earned! I love being surrounded by those I love, by those I would do anything for. I just bask in the the happiness everyone feels at giving to each other. I love seeing smiles spread on faces as people feel cared about and cherished! I love the reson for it all! The little babe that brought such hope to the world and mankind. The Savior of the world being born so long ago. The best gift of all! Yes I love it all!!! I wish everyones Christmas could be as happy as mine! Merry Christmas everyone, may you be filed with love and happiness always!

Thanksgiving!

I know it is a little late to be writing about Thanksgiving but I was trying to get so many things done before my surgery and keeping my blog up to date was a low priority, so I am just now posting things that happened of importance! This was the year that we had everyone for Thanksgiving at our house and it was SO much fun! Every other year the married kids take turns spending Thanksgiving with us and the year that they ARE with us then they are with the in laws for Christmas on that year. We also had many other members of my family there as well. We had 26 people there all together. Not everyone was still there for the family photo but we all had SO much fun catching up and of course eating all that we could possibly ever hope to eat and more!

Everyone helped out with bringing something for the dinner and no one would let me help clean up anything! I think I got the good end of the deal by far!!! : )

Family means everything to us and it was so good to see everyone that could be there. Next year we will have to see how many of Dave's family we can get together! We live in Spanish Fork Utah and we had relatives from Salt Lake and South Jordan come. It truly was wonderful to see everyone and share the day with some of those we are so thankful for in our lives!

Surgery AGAIN!!!

I know that it seems totally unbelievable that there is actually a part of my body that has not had surgery on it, but on December 16th I went into the University of Utah for yet another surgery!
As many of you know, I have dealt with severe back pain and problems for 17 years now and had one double fusion on the two lowest disks in my lumbar spine in July 2004. At that time the 4 lowest disks all had problems but it was in my best interest for mobility and other reasons to fuse only two of those disks. The surgery was done by Dr. Robert Vraney an amazing doctor in Colorado. They went through the stomach and it was a HUGE success! It helped about 80% of the pain in those two disks. I still had pain in the other two disks and through the years and through varying things that have come into play in those years it became necessary to fuse the other two disks on top of the bottom two that had previously been fused. Dr. Vraney referred me to another amazing man, Dr. Brodke at the University of Utah, and he agreed to take me on which I will be forever grateful!!! The surgery was another HUGE success! He was able to go through my left side. This was a miracle to me. I have now had two major back surgeries and have not had to have had the thick back muscles cut through which often causes such problems after surgery for so many patients. I also have not had to have any bone taken from my hip which is done so often in these kinds of surgeries. My doctors have taken bone material that fuses over a period of time. SO far I am healing very well and doing great! I now have 4 of the 6 disks in the lower lumbar fused which will cause some real life changes for me, but hopefully with a lot less less pain! : )
I am so grateful that my Heavenly Father has at least blessed my body with the ability to heal quickly if it is going to have so many needed "adjustments". : ) I sure hope this one is my last!!!
I want to thank all of you that have prayed for me and helped me in any way. I have so much support and love and I appreciate ALL of you SO much!
The picture here with my sweetheart David says SO much! He is ALWAYS there with and for me, and I love him with all of my heart. This isn't really what he signed up for, and yet he never complains!!! He just loves me and is so proud of me, and to tell you all the truth,I simply couldn't do it without him!!! I hope I bring him some of the happiness he deserves! I love ya babe!!!