my partner in crime

 This kid will do anything for a laugh, so one day we "broke" into Kristy's room and took a few pics.
We then made a flipgram (which I highly recommend) to the song  from Xanadu and sent it to her. 
Pretty funny-and I just love soph's expressions.
Man she's a funny kid!

 In Kristy's bed

 Reading Kristy's Journal 

 Playing in her Hat's

 Trying on her shoes

 trying on her jewelry

 

 And her lip stick

Just being silly

And using her Loo

Kirsten's Legs

Summer is coming quickly as is Kirsten's 16th birthday.

At least it feels that way.


In an attempt to get Kirsten's legs ready for TREK this summer (walking about 8-10 miles a day) as well as getting her ready to drive, we were advised to do "castings" on both of her legs.To stretch out her muscles s that they aren't so tight.

Here's what "casting" entails:

8 Botox shots in the major muscles of both of her legs.

 This is  Dr Michael Green and his Nurse (and some other Doc to oversee the procedure)

 

Kirsten is laying on her stomach watching Disney Channel on the Ipad- to take the edge off. She was totally unaware of the procedure and when it was over asked if she could finish the show.

 The sites of said shots-the redness is from the numbing spray

 After 13 days she was ready for the casts. Beth the physical therapist too really good care of her and wrapped her all up.

 Her leg gets stretched and then casted at that angle in an effort to stretch out her muscles.

 This was her first casting. Later she ended up getting both legs casted and for 4 weeks.
Each week we go in,  take off the cast and start all over.
She's such a good egg. She never complains-but why would she, she gets to use the elevator key at school.

And this is how she gets to shower. 

 A bit awkward in both the logistics of it and having her mom help. 

Good times...good times

Brown Day

 This is "Brown"

She's one of my Best Friends

We always have a good time together and we laugh.

A Lot. 

 One of my favorite things about her is that she is a connoisseur of fine food and she makes no apologies for it. 
 Did you know that there is a Hot Dog on a Stick drive thru? Neither did we until she spied it while we were driving home from the Dunford outlet.

She turned that 'burb around and took a turn in the drive thru.

There is nothing finer than a good friend, a Hot Dog on a Stick Corn Dog and some of that lemonade.

Especially at 10:30 in the morning.

Red cups

 Here's what 2 four year old girls, 20 minutes and a lot of red cups will get you:

 

And they did it all by themselves!

cast away

In an effort to get Kirsten ready to DRIVE and go on TREK, we are trying to stretch out the muscle in her  right leg. She had her leg put at an awkward angle and then hard cast in that position. She will have to wear the cast for a week and then the Physical Therapist will measure the angle to see if it worked.
If it doesn't work then she will have to get Botox shots in both legs and recast for 4 weeks.
Yes, both legs.
In hard casts.
For 4 weeks.
The PT seems to think it is "no big deal" and that she will "be fine".
Fingers crossed!

 

Oh and she can't get it wet or even try to cover it with plastic. Thank goodness there is a shower head in the bath tub. 

Beard-be-gone

It all began as a healthy "non-competitive" No Shave November with his brother Dave. And....2 1/2 months of growth and many compliments from the (older) ladies in the ward, Jim was ready to shave it off.
 I loved it and was sad to see it go.
Luckily he looks good either way!

 

 

Grandpa Mel

Last Saturday we said goodbye to our Grandpa Mel.

Back in November he fell and hit his head and never fully recovered from the fall.

Grandma Annette arranged for him to come home and to receive hospice care.

On January 7th She called and asked if I would meet her at the house at 3:30 to help her get ready for Mel's arrival.  I got to her home at 3:00 and did paperwork with the Hospice nurse. Annette arranged for a transportation company to bring Mel from the Care Facility where he had been staying. He arrived at 3:40 and they carefully moved him from the gurney to the hospital bed. Annette, Jake, Julie, the Hospice nurse  the transportation guys and me were all in the room and Annette said "I don't think he is breathing. His chest usually moves up and down." The nurse listened with her stethoscope and checked for a pulse. Annette looked at the 2 transport guys and jokingly said "What kind of drive did you take over here?" We giggled and then we all watched and waited.

The nurse put the stethoscope back around her neck and said "He's home." Annette began to sob. Julie put her arms around her mom and cried with her. I walked over to Jake and put my arm in his arm. We all just cried.

I called Jim and he left work to come down to the house. Julie began calling her siblings. I was asked to call Mel's kids. I was also asked to go over to Grandma Fugal's house and tell her. I shared an intimate and tender moment with grandma Fugal.

She was in the middle of watching Dr. Phil with the volume at full capacity. She couldn't hear me knock of come in. I startled her a bit but she did know who I was. I sat by her side and told her the news. She began to cry and she repeated over and over again, "Oh how wonderful! It's just so wonderful!"

I went back to Annette's and stayed there for the duration of the evening.  Family came over and we all mourned with each other. It was both a sad and happy time. At 8:00 we called the mortuary and they came to get Grandpa. Jim and 2 of Mel's sons helped them move Mel and put him into the hearse.

The Funeral was 4 days later and it was a beautiful service. One of the best parts was seeing all of the scouts in uniform standing at salute and holding American Flags. Mel was a huge scouter and had even been the last person to ever receive a college degree in scouting from BYU.

We will miss that loving, kind, mild mannered and even tempered grandpa. He was a great man who did a lot for Annette and her family. There are so many stories of his goodness and the miracles that were wrought by the workings of his hands. So grateful we were blessed to have him in our lives. We will love him and miss him.