Monday was a day of frolicking. Beginning with an obstacle course set up by Logan and Friends. There was some concern that the younger kids couldn't compete, but I explained that they would be working for their Personal Best time, and that they didn't need to worry if Logan was the fastest. Turned out that the hardest section of the course was when the balance bike had to be placed on the wagon which was then pulled to the deck area. The best was the finish line where the competitors had to hand me a small purple flower which had been plucked from a bush at the last turn. All of the racers consistently reduced their time with each try.
Clara is modeling her new tie dyed shirt.
And posing in the pool
My best activity was squirting the kids with the hose
Ruby worked on her survival skills by building a shelter on the deck.
Don't forget hot tubbing
And a dinner finale at Redland Cafe
Tuesday I spent the day with Vannessah Morss who needed moral support on her weekly trip to Seattle for chemotherapy. We left at 8 in the morning and returned about 8 in the evening.
I really did nothing but be a companion and, at times, watch her sleep. Unfortunately, I dozed off in the middle of her one-on-one meeting with the doctor -- I was supposed to be her second pair ears and I failed miserably. Luckily, everything was in good order, and there was really nothing noteworthy that I should have been fully alert to document.
All through her years of chemo, Vannessah has worn a cold cap, cooled by dry ice in pellet form. It had performed miraculously, and she has never lost her hair. Very dapper, indeed.
Tuesday was my BIG day. I graduated from the knee scooter (NEVER to be used again, by the way) and orange cast to a blue walking cast!
Freedom!!!
and revulsion
Yes - doctor said "everything looks good, now put on a walking cast." I learned that the only difference between a walking cast and the one I'd previously had is that it is more robustly fashioned with more layers of nylon fabric.
I chose blue this time to give a little recognition to BYU
And now I'm walking out of the cast room - honestly I was walking like I was skunk drunk! It took me about a day to get my legs and balance back.
The scooter, unused, waiting to be put into the car for the last time!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
And at home, recovering. This all happened on a Wednesday. Thursday and Friday the lower muscles on the left leg ached - a lot! But then I hadn't even flexed them for six weeks.
Dad got to go mole hunting again= the was a suspicious and very shallow tunnel right along the edge of the sidewalk. He set a trap, and bingo, five minutes later he had a strike. So proud of my little little hunter.
We have kids here all the time. Practicing
soccer skills
gymnastic routines
educational learning about the ocean with Octonaughts
Jude helped take screws out of the demolished deck pieces of wood (we want to use them for a new floor of the bike shed)
Dad helped too
Picking up the living room...while wearing my old walking boot.
Clara is beginning to work on math fact using playing cards
The Ward Camp out was Friday night. My contribution was to help bake some humongous potatoes
We met at Oxbow Regional Park which is nestled in a valley alongside the Sandy River. The start of our adventure was a bit sketchy because we didn't really know which group camp site to go to???
#1 or #1. We chose poorly, and it took a while to find our group of ward friends which were clustered under the covered area in #1. It was a great area, and the cost was $55.00 per night. The meal was a yummy baked potato bar with tons of toppings, and there was watermelon and Jessica's chocolate chip cookies.
On Saturday I went with Ann and Travis to look at a house they wanted to buy. It was really nice, and they made an offer which was not accepted because there was a contingency in their offer - that the needed to sell their house first. Turned out to be okay because Ann had a bout of cold feet and decided she didn't want the house after all. So now they are going to try again next spring when they will be able to have their house on the market.
After the house hunting, we started, with Travis and Malcolm's help, to re-do the shade cloth over the actual deck area. Unfortunately, just as we drove and parked in the deck are, and then got out of the car, Dad came up and asked "so, what are you doing here?" Oh no, it was Temporary Global Amnesia again. It hadn't happened for over twenty years. Out of safety, Travis and I took him to the ER at Kaiser Sunnyside. Turned out to only be TGA and not a stoke. Now I know know how to test for a stroke and will do so if there ever is a next time. But I must say, my heart did a little bit of a desperate flip-flop.
Next week is when the girls and friends to to the Enchantments - I wish I was going. Dad and I will be taking care of their six little kids.
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