Guilty Feelings of a Mother

There are times when I wish I could do more as a "Mom" or as a "Grandma". Yesterday when I was at work I got a text from Shana telling me how sick she was and how she wished she had someone to take Daxton so that she could sleep and try to get better. I felt helpless. I wanted so much to be able to take off work and go "mother" her and help her out at home and with the kids. I was training someone new at work and right now I have no one to call to back me up so I had to sit there all day wondering how she was doing. Then she told me that Daxtons pre-school that was supposed to open on Monday is not going to open for another week now. Here I go again feeling guilty that I can't help out more. Work, work, work. It seems to stand in the way of everything that's important in this life. I'm going to have Dax on Tues.(my day off) so i'm looking forward to spending my time with him. We'll plan on doing something fun together. I look forward to the day when I can retire and be able to be of more help to my family. The guilt really gets to you some time. Anyone else have those guilty feelings?

Finally an answer to my pain

I've been dealing with lower back pain for a couple of years now. It comes spuratically. About every couple of months. I've never had a back injury of any sort. I think it's just from getting older. I used to carry the grandkids around on my back singing "Giddy Up A Oompapa Oopapa Mau Mau"..but had to give that up because of the pain it would cause the next day.
I've been doing physical therapy twice a week for the last 3 weeks for a pulled hamstring and I'm thinking the exercises they are having me do has caused this to flair up again. It started on Monday and I finally decided I needed an answer. I went to the doctor today and since I've never had any kind of diagnostic treatment for it she decided to have me have an MRI and Lspine xrays of my back. I went directly to my work and they were able to get me in right then which was wonderful. I guess it pays to know people huh?
Well the results came back as follows:
AT L1-L2 I have a broad based disc bulge
L2-L3 there is another disc bulge and mild facet degenerative changes.
L4-L5 a mild central disc bulge
and at L5-S1 I have a right paracentral disc herniation.

So there is my answer. It wasn't all in my head. I'm going to have to quit my physical therapy on my hamstring now because several of the exercises I was doing do not sit well with back problems.
At least I have an answer and can learn to deal with it. I will try to be more careful lifting etc.
It won't get in the way of my exercises and outdoor things I love to do. Thats for sure!!
If any of you have had back pain you know how it can get you down. I sit on my butt for 12 hrs a day at work so I know that doesn't help at all. I'm always having to get up and walk around and bend over to stretch. (maybe i'll get my doctor to sign me a note saying I can't work for a month!!) hahah..

Another memory made

All of us at our Candy Apple Party

Ok..call me crazy again!!! But I love getting the kids over for special parties. This is a first for candy apples though. I'm not sure if we'll make this one a tradition but we'll think about it.
I'm so glad I had Shana, Kristi and Kori's help that's for sure. But as you can tell we had a blast decorating the carmel apples. The kids got to choose what they wanted on them. It was a real dirty mess but totally worth it. And they are way yummy. I hope the kids will always remember these fun times we have because I sure will.
Happy Halloween time!!!

My fun day with Dax and Kin

Shana already blogged about this but I just had to do so myself too.
Dax spent the night with us last Sunday. While he was here we read books and he played with Papa and Kori and Troy. I could tell he was getting tired so I put him in our big king size bed. He loves to snuggle so I got real close and put my arm around him. He was laying on a stuffed catapillar thing for his pillow but he didn't want my head to touch it. After a little while I was sorta uncomfortable trying to snuggle but have my head off his catapillar so I moved a little bit. Well, he didn't like that. He grabbed my arm and put it over him again but told me I couldn't put my head where his was. Oh, he's a character. Well, the little stinker finally fell asleep. I love looking at children when they're sleeping so I stared at him for quite some time. Wondering what he was dreaming about. I always wonder if they're going to always love coming to our home and spending time with Papa and Grandma. I sure hope so.
The next morning we got up and I told him I would make him anything he wanted and he chose pancakes and eggs. Knowing how much he loves chocolate, I asked him if he would like chocolate chip pancakes. He had a huge grin on his face from ear to ear. (he's like grandma and is a chocoholic). He got to sprinkle the chocolate chips on each one. He loved them!!!
We spent the morning shopping and buying him some clothes and shopping for the other grandkids. He would hold something up and tell me how cute it was and that Makinley would love it. He's quite the shopper as Shana has already mentioned. He had to hold my hand everywhere we went too and I just love that.
It was time to go pick up Makinley from pre-school so we waited in the back yard for her. She knew I was coming to pick her up and I guess she was pretty excited because her teacher told me that's all she talked about. When she saw me she came running and yelling "Grandma, Grandma, I have missed you so much." My heart melted. (I had just seen her the day before but she still missed me!!)
We headed off to Wendys for lunch. They're quite the pair. But an elderly lady came up to Makinley and told her what a beautiful little girl she was then turned to Daxton and said how handsome he was. Makinley then put her hands on her hips and said "And he's a good man too." I just about died. The lady in return said "I bet he is." We laughed so hard. The things that come out of childrens mouths!! I spent the rest of the day and every day since thinking of that and laughing and sharing it with others who also laughed. He is a good man that's for sure.
I loved spending my day with them and seeing them interract with each other. I want to share many more days like that. My heart is so filled with love for my grandchildren. I can not wait for our 5th one to arrive. I"m biting at the bit to find out what Troy and Kori are having because I want to start buying things for them. On Oct. 12th we'll find out the news.
Thanks to Daxton and Makinley for making my day so much fun!!!! I love you!!

Our Trip to Sun Valley Idaho

Rog and I at Red Fish Lake This is the pond in front of our Lodge at Sun Valley
We're dreaming about bringing our family here some time and staying in this campground.
This is our hotel called Sun Valley Lodge
This lady is one of about 5 artists that were capturing the beauty of Red Fish on canvas
I'm on a walk around the pathways at our hotel. All the ponds had swans in them.



Roger and I were so fortunate to have been able to get away this week. His work had a work conference in Sun Valley Idaho so the vacation getaway was on the city.
We left on Tues. morning and got home today Saturday. We stayed at the beautiful Sun Valley Lodge. The weather was quite chilly when we got there. Only 48 degrees. I had to put my hooded sweatshirt on to keep warm.
While Rog spent 4-5 hours a day in meetings I exercised in the weight room and another day I walked on the trail near the hotel. It was a brisk walk since it was kinda chilly. But the hour I spent outside was beautiful.
Our hotel was so pretty. The pond in front had swans and little babies. Our window overlooked a huge year round ice skating rink. The leaves were starting to turn colors so it just made it more colorful.
When he wasn't in meetings we did a little shopping and one day we drove up to Red Fish Lake which is absolutely beautiful. We rode our bikes around part of the lake while we were there. There were several artists sitting in various spots around the lake creating beautiful oil paintings. The mountain range was awesome to look at.
Red Fish Lake is only an hour north of Sun Valley and well worth the drive. Some day we'd like to take the trailer there and camp. It's so hard to see all of these places without our kids. The pictures don't do it justice that's for sure.
We found a really good Mexican restaurant about 16 miles south of Sun Valley and we drove to that twice while we were there. It was that good. My brother Jim had recommended it and it was well worth the drive too.
We had such a nice time but I'm always anxious to get home. That many days away from my home and family is a little hard for me. Roger said we need to get used to it because that's what we're going to be doing when we retire. (oh no!! what am I going to do?)
Anyway, here are a few pictures of our trip.
P.S. ...a big THANKS to Kori and Troy for watching our 5 dogs!!! I don't know what we would have done without them!!!

Halloween is coming

I need suggestions as to what to be for Halloween this year. Every year I dress up and I make Roger too. This is what we were last year. I know he hates it but he is a good sport and does it for me. I always dress up for work because every year they have a contest. One year I was a head on a silver platter and won the scariest costume. Another year I was a nerd and won. I love trying to come up with homemade costumes so if you can think of anything let me know. I'm doing this post early so that those of you with good ideas can give them to me and I can have a month to prepare. I figure if Shana can have her house all ready decorated for halloween then I can post this blog..hahaha..

Update on our puppies

Here is a little update on our 4 week old puppies. Porter is the biggest. Then Sally and then Rosco. Brayden and Daxton named them for us. So that's what they go by.
They're now starting to eat some puppy chow dog food. We have really enjoyed them and they're going to be wonderful campers. We took them camping with us this past week and they loved it. We put them in their little pen outside and they ran around in it enjoying the fresh air.
We have 4 more weeks of loving them up and then we'll have to send them off to their homes which will be a sad day. The grand kids adore them. That's the first thing they do is run to the basement and get them out to play with.
Like I said before, if you know anyone who would enjoy the best little family dogs just let us know. They'll be ready to go the first week of October.