Saturday, September 18, 2010
Garden of the Gods
We had a visit from Teresa and Mike this week which was wonderful. Teresa & I don't get to see each other near enough so to have them here for three days was great. On Thursday Amanda was doing well so we decided to take a trip down to Garden of the Gods which is a State Historic Site in Colorado Springs. It consists of natural rock formations that are absolutely stunning as well as plants and animals. It was donated to the City of Colorado Springs with the stipulation that it remain free and open to the public forever. We called ahead to make sure they had a wheelchair for Amanda and off we went. Even though they only have one handicap accessible trail it was enough. What a beautiful place!
Tuesday, September 7, 2010
Lfie in Denver
I have been in Denver with Amanda for just over a week now. She is one week post surgery and doing well. She is making good progress and keeping a positive attitude. Greg asked me what we do here all day since she is unable to move around much or travel even a short distance. I have become a handywoman hanging pictures and changing shower heads. A physical therapist helping her get up, down and walk the hall several times a day. An arts and crafts helper as she finds projects to work on that will keep her busy but don't wear her out. A personal assistant running errands, fixing meals, doing laundry and all the other things that it takes to run her home while she is down. Yesterday she was able to dress herself including putting on her own socks and shoes. This may seem like a small thing to the rest of us but one week post back surgery it was huge! I am enjoying spending this time with her. She has a great outlook about all of this and finds something to laugh about everyday. I am thankful for all of those back at home who are taking care of home, family, and seminary while I am gone. My life is truly blessed!
Logan Nicholas Balmforth
Born August 15, 2010 6lbs 13oz 19-3/4 in. Logan was about a week and a half old when these pictures were taken.
Snuggling with Papa
Proud daddy
I love the contrast between Nick's hand and Logan's.
Snuggling with Papa
Proud daddy
I love the contrast between Nick's hand and Logan's.
It shows just how tiny he is. How much safer could he feel
than all wrapped up in daddy's arms?
Mom, Dad & Logan on blessing day
We had to find an extra small blessing outfit and it
Mom, Dad & Logan on blessing day
We had to find an extra small blessing outfit and it
was still huge. Kaitlin, Riley and Kevin made this blanket for him.
We are grateful to have another grandson arrive safely and ever so grateful that we could be there for his blessing.
Soccer Ty
Tyler starts soccer this month so mom & dad got him all outfitted and we headed off to the park for some pre-season practice.
Wednesday, August 18, 2010
I have not been very consistent with this blog and I didn't think anyone really read it anyway but talking to my mom the other day she said she checks it all the time to see what's up so I promised her that I would do better at updating it. So here you go mom:
Logan Nicholas Balmforth made his debut on Sunday at 1:44am weighing 6lbs 13oz & 20" long. Alex is doing well. Logan has had a few struggles as he arrived 3 weeks early but he was able to go home on Friday and so far all is well. We are heading up to meet him next week.
Week two of seminary just ended and I almost have all of the kids names down. I still mix up a couple of the guys who look alike to me and there are a few kids who I just cannot remember yet but considering we have 120 students I think I'm doing pretty well. However I will be gone for the next few weeks visiting Alex, Nick & Logan in Idaho for a few days and then it's off to Denver to stay with Amanda while she recovers from back surgery so I will probably have to start over when I get back.
Joe tore his left miniscus a few months ago and thought it had healed. He went on a 50 mile backpacking trip with Kevin's scout troop and while trying to be careful of his left knee he managed to tear both the medial and the lateral miniscus in his right knee. He is probably going to need have surgery to repair both knees. He meets with the orthopedic dr on the 30th and we will see if he can wait until I return from Colorado to have it fixed or if Brian & Katie are going to get to play nursemaid for him.
I am still having problems with my right arm. It turns out that constant stress is not good for you! I carry stress in my neck so my muscles are tight which is now affecting the tendons and nerves in my right shoulder, elbow and fingers. Wednesday at physical therapy they were working on my shoulder. He told me to relax my arm and I replied "It is relaxed." He assured me that it was not relaxed and that I needed to do "spaghetti arms" like they do on the Wiggles show. I have never seen the Wiggles but it appears that I have forgotten what it feels like to be relaxed.
Tyler asked me the other day if he could have a cow. A few years ago that would have meant he was asking if he could have a temper tantrum but he was really asking if he could have a live cow to keep in the backyard. He also said that he would build a small pen for it to potty in so that it wouldn't get all over the yard. Isn't he thoughtful?
Logan Nicholas Balmforth made his debut on Sunday at 1:44am weighing 6lbs 13oz & 20" long. Alex is doing well. Logan has had a few struggles as he arrived 3 weeks early but he was able to go home on Friday and so far all is well. We are heading up to meet him next week.
Week two of seminary just ended and I almost have all of the kids names down. I still mix up a couple of the guys who look alike to me and there are a few kids who I just cannot remember yet but considering we have 120 students I think I'm doing pretty well. However I will be gone for the next few weeks visiting Alex, Nick & Logan in Idaho for a few days and then it's off to Denver to stay with Amanda while she recovers from back surgery so I will probably have to start over when I get back.
Joe tore his left miniscus a few months ago and thought it had healed. He went on a 50 mile backpacking trip with Kevin's scout troop and while trying to be careful of his left knee he managed to tear both the medial and the lateral miniscus in his right knee. He is probably going to need have surgery to repair both knees. He meets with the orthopedic dr on the 30th and we will see if he can wait until I return from Colorado to have it fixed or if Brian & Katie are going to get to play nursemaid for him.
I am still having problems with my right arm. It turns out that constant stress is not good for you! I carry stress in my neck so my muscles are tight which is now affecting the tendons and nerves in my right shoulder, elbow and fingers. Wednesday at physical therapy they were working on my shoulder. He told me to relax my arm and I replied "It is relaxed." He assured me that it was not relaxed and that I needed to do "spaghetti arms" like they do on the Wiggles show. I have never seen the Wiggles but it appears that I have forgotten what it feels like to be relaxed.
Tyler asked me the other day if he could have a cow. A few years ago that would have meant he was asking if he could have a temper tantrum but he was really asking if he could have a live cow to keep in the backyard. He also said that he would build a small pen for it to potty in so that it wouldn't get all over the yard. Isn't he thoughtful?
Saturday, August 7, 2010
So long to summer and sleeping in
What ever happened to summer including June, July AND August? School starts on Monday for the kids in our school district, which means seminary starts as well. While I'm excited to see the kids and be back in the swing of things I am not looking forward to the alarm going off at 4:30 - yes 4:30am. We have five seminary classess at our building. Two of them meet at 6am and three meet at 7am. Being the seminary principle means that I can choose when I am there and what time I arrive. In the past I have gotten to the building about 6:40, in time to say good-bye to the early kids and hello to the later ones, but for the last several days I have felt impressed that I need to start being there in time for the 6am classes. This was not good news as I am NOT a morning person, however I have found that if I am faithful and follow the promptings I receive, good things happen. So every monring I'll be heading to the building about 5:40am which seems so insane to me. I don't think anyone should be up and out that early in the morning - it's not normal!
Sunday, July 4, 2010
Summer fun
It's July 4th already! Where is the year going?
At the beginning of June we went to Utah for a wedding and stopped by Wyoming on our way home to visit my family. Yes I know that Wyoming isn't on the way to California when you are in Utah but Las Vegas wasn't on the way to Idaho when we went that direction a couple of years ago either. Sometimes you just have to throw away the map and follow your heart to where your family is so you can see them. We were only able to stay for one day but it was so worth it! I got to spend time with my parents, be with all three of my sisters and one of my brothers as well as some of their families all at the same time! Can't remember the last time that happened. Short but sweet! I hope it's not another 3-4 years before it happens again.
Kaitlin went to girls camp a couple of weeks ago. It was her last year and now after 17 straight years I am done sending girls to camp. Hard to believe that 17 years ago Amanda went to camp for the first time and now 7 girls later we are done. Another chapter of life finished.
Happy Birthday! Kevin, Kaitlin and mom. They all have birthdays coming up this week. Kevin will be 15 on Tuesday, I won't tell on my mom but her birthday is Wednesday, and Kaitlin will be 17 on Thursday. This is the second time my youngest has been 15. The last time around we were blessed with six more kids shortly after Greg's 15th birthday. This time around I know Heavenly Father will continue to increase our family's size through grandchildren.
Kevin has decided to compete in a triathalon in two weeks. He will run 5.82 miles, bike 12 miles and kayak another 6 miles. He met with a trainer to get a workout program that will help him be more prepared but time is short so he will have to work hard. I have been working out with him to keep him focused. I think he is somewhat surprised that I can keep up with him and while he is often sore the next day I have not been sore at all. Hmmm wonder what that means? Could it be that I am in better shape than my 15 year old son?
Kevin and Joe will be leaving on a 50 mile backpacking trip the last week of July. They are going with Kevin's scout group. Hopefully they will both make it back safe. I love backpacking but 50 miles of it is nuts!
Kaitlin and Kevin will be attending EFY the first week of August. They are both excited about attending. At first they were not thrilled to go to the one in Sacramento because it wasn't far enough away for them but now they are getting more excited about it as some of their friends have been to other sessions and have shared how great it is. What on earth will I do with no kids to run here there and everywhere that week?
At the beginning of June we went to Utah for a wedding and stopped by Wyoming on our way home to visit my family. Yes I know that Wyoming isn't on the way to California when you are in Utah but Las Vegas wasn't on the way to Idaho when we went that direction a couple of years ago either. Sometimes you just have to throw away the map and follow your heart to where your family is so you can see them. We were only able to stay for one day but it was so worth it! I got to spend time with my parents, be with all three of my sisters and one of my brothers as well as some of their families all at the same time! Can't remember the last time that happened. Short but sweet! I hope it's not another 3-4 years before it happens again.
Kaitlin went to girls camp a couple of weeks ago. It was her last year and now after 17 straight years I am done sending girls to camp. Hard to believe that 17 years ago Amanda went to camp for the first time and now 7 girls later we are done. Another chapter of life finished.
Happy Birthday! Kevin, Kaitlin and mom. They all have birthdays coming up this week. Kevin will be 15 on Tuesday, I won't tell on my mom but her birthday is Wednesday, and Kaitlin will be 17 on Thursday. This is the second time my youngest has been 15. The last time around we were blessed with six more kids shortly after Greg's 15th birthday. This time around I know Heavenly Father will continue to increase our family's size through grandchildren.
Kevin has decided to compete in a triathalon in two weeks. He will run 5.82 miles, bike 12 miles and kayak another 6 miles. He met with a trainer to get a workout program that will help him be more prepared but time is short so he will have to work hard. I have been working out with him to keep him focused. I think he is somewhat surprised that I can keep up with him and while he is often sore the next day I have not been sore at all. Hmmm wonder what that means? Could it be that I am in better shape than my 15 year old son?
Kevin and Joe will be leaving on a 50 mile backpacking trip the last week of July. They are going with Kevin's scout group. Hopefully they will both make it back safe. I love backpacking but 50 miles of it is nuts!
Kaitlin and Kevin will be attending EFY the first week of August. They are both excited about attending. At first they were not thrilled to go to the one in Sacramento because it wasn't far enough away for them but now they are getting more excited about it as some of their friends have been to other sessions and have shared how great it is. What on earth will I do with no kids to run here there and everywhere that week?
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)