Oh No, Not Again

Just got back from the hospital ER. I got a phone call earlier today that my grandfather had fallen at the nursing home and was taken in for x-rays. Well, a few hours later, I get another call that his CT scan came back showing two bleeds from his brain and that they were calling around Tucson and Phoenix for a hospital to take him in case he needed surgery. Now, my grandfather is 91-years-old. He has fallen quite a bit this year, but this is by far the worse. Upon arriving to the ER my father stops me to tell me that they also found an Atlas vertebral fracture. According to the PA seeing my grandfather, this was the worst kind of fracture. So, my poor grandpa had to be placed in a neck brace and on a back board. He was so uncomfortable, he looked miserable. The miracle was that he had fallen, was helped up, and was placed back into his wheelchair, where he sat for a couple of hours before he was taken to the hospital, all without a neck brace in place to support the fracture that was found later that evening. After waiting for a couple of hours and still no word on which hospital he would be going to, it became evident that my grandfather was having a hard time breathing due to the stationary position he had to be in. They then decided to intubate him, putting a tube down his throat, and connecting him to a ventilator.

So it turns out that he is going to the Barrow Neurological Clinic in Phoenix, which is another blessing. Although we all wish we could be there with him this evening, it helps us to feel some comfort in knowing that he is going to a great facility and that my Aunt Dodie and cousins live in Chandler and will be waiting at the hospital for his arrival. So now we play the waiting game. What will happen in the morning when the neurologist evaluates him? What will the next CT scan show? Will he have to have surgery and for what? Will he make it through the surgery, again he is 91?!?! I am trying to stay calm, because I know at this point it is completely out of our hands.

It is hard to think about anything else, but him tonight. Alisa, my dad, and I were there to see the helicopter take off. It was so sad to think of him lying in the helicopter, sedated, taking a ride to another hospital because of his questionable condition. I am just so grateful that I had the chance to see him alert and oriented before they sedated him for the intubation. I kissed his cheek and told him how much I loved him.

We are so grateful for the MGRMC ER staff that were there to offer support and information when able. My sister and I kept feeling like we were in the way, but they did everything they could to make us comfortable, offering drinks and chairs since we were waiting for so long.

Well I love you Grandpa Lito. My thoughts and prayers are with you tonight. See you later alligator.

Happy 29th B-day Lucas!!!

Yes, it is that time. I have to spend a few moments writing about my wonderful husband on his birthday.

Lucas and I have been together almost 14 years, yes 14. For as long as I have known him, he has always had a wonderful heart, very loving and giving. He is the best father, husband, brother, and son. I have been so blessed to have met him when I was so young. I didn't realize when we first met all those years ago in gym class that he would change my life. I do recall though that I thought he was cute back then and still think that I snagged myself a pretty good looking guy, the best looking of the Johnson boys! Lucas has taught me to be more assertive and confident in myself. He has taught me about love and life. Lucas was the first one to say "I Love You" and is never afraid of showing some PDA.

We have so much in common, I can truly say that he is my best-friend and soul-mate. We bring out the best and the worst in each other. He has given me two, almost three beautiful daughters that we both love and cherish. He is always wanting to find fun things for us to do as a family. He has such a big heart. He is very dependable and loyal. I know that his friends depend on him when they are in a bind or just need advice. He has had the same group of buddies for as long as I have known him.

I could go on and on. I will end this though with a quote from our song:

"...I will love you, baby - Always

And I'll be there forever and a day - Always

I'll be there till the stars don't shine

Till the heavens burst and

The words don't rhyme

And I know when I die, you'll be on my mind

And I'll love you - Always..."

-Bon Jovi

At the Renaissance Festival last year. Lucas took the girls on an elephant.

At the Graham County Fair this year. Lucas got a bracelet too, so that he could act like a big kid and ride the rides with the girls.

Every day I am reminded of how lucky I am to have him for a husband. I wouldn't trade him for anything in the world.

I love you Luke, Happy Birthday!!!

"Bedtime Stories"

We just got back from taking the girls to see the new Adam Sandler movie "Bedtime Stories." Really cute movie!! It had a great story, very funny, and fabulous 80s inspired music.

Lucas has started this tradition of laying the girls to bed every night. Well tonight they wanted a bedtime story:

There were these two princesses that fought all the time. Well, one day they princesses wanted to go out and play. Princess Avery wanted to pick berries while Princess Andie thought that was stupid and wanted to climb trees instead. So, Princess Andie is swinging around in the trees like a monkey and spots her sister Princess Avery, she decides she is going to try and scare her. Then she noticed that behind Princess Avery, a big troll was sneaking up behind her. Princess Andie had to then decide if she was going to try and help her sister, or if she was going to worry about herself and run away. Princess Avery continued to pick berries, not knowing the troll behind her until the troll tried to grab her. Princess Avery took off running just as from the trees Princess Andie jumped onto the trolls back. Together the two princesses defeated the troll and ran off together, deciding from that day forward to be nice to one another and help each other out.
The end.

Well, if any of you have seen the new movie, after Adam Sandler's character finishes a story, his niece and nephew always add something at the end. In the first story the little boy says, "and then it starts to rain gumdrops".

So Andie decides to tell Lucas that his way was a boring way to end the story. Avery then adds in, "It starts to rain gumdrops." Lucas just thought that was the funniest thing!

1st Snow for Christmas Dinner

Well it happened yesterday. We actually had snow fall yesterday afternoon and into the evening. There is a blanket that covers the ground this morning!

Lucas and I like to joke that the snow has followed us here from Flagstaff. While we were in Flagstaff, it snowed like crazy. All three years it snowed so much that the campus closed down for snow days. That hadn't happened in like 15-years, or something, I am just throwing out numbers. Then a few years back, the Thatcher/Safford area got like 12-18 in of snow in January. So in the last 6 years, we have had snow for 5 of them!

There is just something magical about snow around Christmas time. We may not have had it on Christmas, but we got it before New Years. The girls were so excited! Mt. Graham looks beautiful. I had Lucas take a few pics to remember it by, because I know as soon as that sun comes up this afternoon, it will all be gone.

We had a little family get together yesterday afternoon for Christmas dinner, because I had to work on Christmas Day. My grandma was there, my mother, father, and sister. It was so nice to be all together. My grandpa is still at Infinia, but doing so much better. We all can't wait for him to get to go home. Especially my grandma, then she won't have to stay at my Aunt Nathalia's anymore. Andie learned how to play her new Hannah Montana guitar game and we couldn't keep Avery offer her hopper ball. Her little pigtails were just flying all over the place.

I am still having a hard time believing that it is almost the end of the year. Lucas' b-day is tomorrow! Don't really have too much planned, but hoping to get to go out eat just the two of us. My parents are planning to take the kids tonight, which would be fabulout because I think that Andie is getting cabin fever. No school right now, plus she has Bronchitis. Stinks being sick for Christmas.

Mini Vaca & Christmas Cookies

We just got back from Phoenix today. We decided to take the girls to see Santa Claus. It was ridiculous. We were in line for two hours. The girls were really excited and couldn't wait to ask for what they wanted. Andie wants an EasyBake Oven and Avery asked for a bouncy ball, you know the one that you sit on that has the handle. Anyway, Santa told them both that they could have what they wanted. Andie then asked Santa to make this the "Best Christmas Ever." He told Andie that she could help make it the "Best Christmas Ever" by helping out others and keeping good thoughts in your heart. We all really had a great time!

Tonight I made my Christmas Cookies. This year I made Sour Cream Cookies. They are so yummy. They aren't too sweet, too heavy, but just right. Even Lucas likes them. So, I am sharing my recipe in the hopes of not losing it again and having to bug my mother. Thanks Mom!!!

Sour Cream Cookies
1 1/2 C Sugar 1 C Sour Cream
1 t. Vanilla 1 t. Salt
1 t. Baking Soda 4 C Flour
1 C Shortening 3 Eggs

Cream shortening, add sugar, eggs, & dry ingredients. Mix well. Add vanilla & sour cream last. Place on cookie sheet by dropping from spoon. Bake at 350* for 15 min. Frost when cool. (I use cream cheese frosting & then decorate with sprinkles or add dye to the frosting.) This recipe makes about 4 dozen/2 in diameter cookies.

So, the cookies are ready for Andie and Avery to frost for Santa tomorrow!!! Can't believe that Christmas is almost here!!!

Andie and Motherhood

I just got off my third night shift tonight and had to get this down, so I won't forget it.

After my nap this afternoon, Andie, Avery, Lucas and I were all hanging out in my room on the bed. Avery was being a little pill and I said, "I can only imagine how she will be when she is a teenager." Andie then looks at me and says, "I can only imagine how she will be when she is a mom." I then asked Andie how many kids she thought she would have. Again, Andie is only 7 1/2, I know this is a really premature discussion.

So, Andie turns to me and says, "Well, I think that I will start off with one. If I like that one, then I'll have a few more, if I don't like that one, then I'll probably only have one." Lucas and I thought that this was so funny, but how insightful for a 7 year old.

So I guess in Andie's eyes, I really like her, because here I am having #3.

December Performances

Se we have had a busy week. On Saturday was Avery's Christmas Recital with the Safford Dance Academy. She did so well! She knew her dance, and where she needed to go. She knew that she was supposed to stand on the orange heart. She got to dance with a teddy bear and just looked adorable. She had a bow in her hair and it looked (on stage) like she had a snowflake on her head!

Andie just had her Christmas Music program for the Primary School today. She had a dancing part and had to dance with a BOY!! She was so excited and disgusted at the same time. She was so cute and the crowd just loved it. The last song that the entire Primary School (k-3) sang was "We Wish You a Merry Christmas" and Avery sang it at the top of her lungs along with everyone on stage. Avery was so proud of sister, she said the rest of the day what a good job Andie did.

Lucas and I have come to a decision. Avery is our little athlete. She can pretty much do anything after trying it once. She learned to ride her bike very fast. She catches on to dances quickly and loves to be on stage. She loves swimming lessons in the summer, we can bearly keep her head above water. Andie, on the other hand, can be a little clumsy, but is so creative. She loves to draw and has been coloring in the lines since like 2 1/2. She loves to sing and write songs. We are so proud of our little girlies and can't wait to see what talents and gifts this third one will bring to our family. We only have 56 more days until we get to meet and see her.