Chistmas Luncheon with the Girls

Some the Girls Who Attended the
Christmas Lunch

Eleven  of us gals got together for a Christmas Lunch. Attending were: Monica Riehle, Tina Carrillo, Felcia Babb, Liz Stincell, Beverly Sanders, Raia Valenzuela, Kathy Carrillo, Kelly Carrillo, Rita Carrillo Minor Lisa Behunion. and Lacey Riehle. We exchanged gifts and ate lunch at the Olive Garden. We wanted to have a full family Christmas party but just don't have a place big enough for all of us and we are growing larger every year. But it was so nice to get together with the girls some of which we have not seen for some time.

Jay and Randy had a Boy's day as well and had fun with their trucking experiences.

Thanksgiving 2011 at the Bennetts

Thanksgiving 2011 with the Bennett Family in Green Bay

Jacob and Charlie at Perkins

In November, we took the long drive out to Wisconsin. Was stopped in Lincoln to visit Peter and Bonni. They have a very cute apartment and seem very happy.

Me with Bonni and Peter in Lincoln NE

The states we went through were Wyoming (a cold and windy state and motel 6 we stayed in left much to be desired,) Then to Nebraska (A very flat and boring state in the winter but it has beautiful sunsets.) Then Iowa. (I like some parts of Iowa and especially the type of homes they have there.) There we got to see the Mississippi. Then of course Wisconsin, and the way home South Dakota.



Savannah with Her Cinderella Doll





Brother and Sister So Cute



Savannah Eating a Large Meatball at Old Chicago

Tammy and Charlie were perfect hosts. We had a wonderful time and got to see Jacob too. They have a large home theater and a hot tub. We felt like we were in a 4 star hotel. We had really Old Chicago pizza. Us girls went to see The Nutcracker. And of course Charlie fixed a lot of wonderful food. We had both turkey and ham and of course the way Charlie makes turkey it is so juicy and good. Then there was cherry. pumpkin and pecan pie as well as apple crisp. It was all wonderful and fattening and delightful. I also gave Savannah a Cinderella Barbie doll because she always liked mine. She is so cute and smart. She loves math. Savannah had Randy wrapped around her little finger. She talked him in to picking her up from school and taking her shopping where she coaxed him into buying candy and stuff for smore's . Randy said she just melts his heart. How can you tell you tell a precious little girl "no" Randy says.

Randy and Me at Old Chicago

But good time have to come to an end. So we had to take the long road home. We were very fortunate to have good weather (although cold) all the way home.  Our cats were glad to have us home. We wish it wasn't 1500 miles to Green Bay. We put over 3000 miles on our new car. The car was so comfortable to ride in but us old folks get really stoked up riding so long.

Minor News

Not a lot news these days. Fall is here and Winter is close behind. Halloween has come and gone with no trick and treaters here. We did enjoy a pizza party with Matt and his family and his Halloween decorations and his yard are the scariest ever. The way he dressed up this year, had to look twice to do a double take. He looked just like Alex. We are going to Green Bay Wisconsin for Thanksgiving. (I know, why are we going someplace cold?) It's because I need to see my family out there. I miss Savannah most of all, but I miss all the others too. We bought another car. A Hyundai Azera. It's a comfortable full size car. (We have a lot of aches and pains) and the Azera is known as a Grandma and Grandpa car. It's 2009 with low mileage. Leather and all the luxuries. It won't get as good mileage as the Elantra but us old people need comfort when we travel long distances.  The Elantra needed tires and we did not want to put out the money on them because we wanted to trade up within a couple of years. So we just did it a little sooner than we had planned.

We had a nice summer. Did a lot of camping with Monica and Jay. Went to Lacey's color guard. Attended Chezey's blessing. I have a large family and now they are spread all over the place. Wish we could get together all once but I know that will never happen. I am trying to get girls day out with some of our members. We all wish we could find a big enough place for a family Christmas party.

We would like to say Happy Thanksgiving to everyone and eat a lot good food and try to keep from gaining weight. (Right, I need to lose weight but why try until the Holidays are over, and Charlie cooks such good food!)

Latest News



Chezney Zippay

 We camped several times this summer. Crystal Hot Springs, Little Mill and Timpoonke. The last camping trip we took last month in Little Mill. We took my little cat Gimli and he did just fine. It was nice to have his company and he was much more friendly without the other cats around.  I guess we are home for the season unless we decide to take a road trip. We did take a ride up to Diamond Fork in Spanish Fork Canyon. The leaves were turning and were so beautiful!

I have a new great great granddaughter. Her name is Chezney and she belongs to Lorin and Contessa. Born September 20. I guess that makes 8 as far as I can remember. Getting so many I cannot keep track of them all. So fun. Congratulations to Lorin and Contessa. Chezney has a not so much older sister, Kennedy. I think I have 22 grandkids. It's hard to count anymore.

John had surgery on his foot and ankle and it has been over a month. He still can't go back to work. If he did not work on his feet all day, then he could have. He is struggling with finances because of all of this. Hopefully, his foot will be completely normal and he start back to work at the end of October. Randy is getting some special shoes made for diabetics and also to give him a lift on his short leg. I hope that he will be able to walk and have less pain. It does suck to get old and crippled or be young and crippled...anyway it just sucks.

My health is still up and down and I had a very bad reaction to my drugs or something else, nobody knows. But I was sick for 10 days with the worst rash I have ever had. It felt like a very bad sunburn and burned so bad and itched so bad I could not stand it. It was over most of my body. I hope it does not come back after I quit my Prednisone. I also have miss-firing nerves in my upper body. Fun huh?

Randy and I have been reading a lot. I have really enjoyed getting back to reading. I am going to get more books and keep up. I also need to get back to the Rec Center. I have exercise intolerance and after exercising I pay for it dearly. And doing it more often has not helped much. But I am going to try it again. Fibromyalgia gets worse with exercise so maybe that is it but I am not ready to stop trying. The meds have made me gain weight and so I guess I will just have to accept it. I can lose weight but it's Hell keeping it off. Too many years of auto immune system drugs have caused my bones and veins to thin out. I am having a bone scan next week.

Until next time, I am signing off and wishing love happiness to all my family and friends.

Late Summer News



Marissa and Her Boyfriend

 Summer will soon be over and it took so long to get here!!  I have been some better but have lots of backache and fibromyalgia. We have been camping a few times, went to Peter's wedding and had a wonderful time in ST George with Tina and her family. We went summing and went to see Disney's The Little Mermaid at the Tuacahn. Marissa and her boyfriend came from San Diego. Randy and I read several books while were in St George. I have never seen Randy read so much. It' good to get away from the TV (there was a TV there but kids were playing games on it) Randy now has bought a book reader. I am OK with just plain old paper books. I also had a nice visit with Marty and family. We also celebrated Keira's 1st birthday at Tina and Kipp's canyon house.

We are going camping again the end of the month. We wanted to go more places but John is having surgery and we may need to help him get to his appointments and with the price of everything these days, I guess camping will be all there is left. We want to go to Tammy's for Thanksgiving so I hope the weather isn't as bad as last year. 

Me with Chevy Cash, Tessie and Kennedy



Kipp, Dom, John and Matt
August Boys



Kelby and Keira at the Canyon House
Keira's 1st Birthday

I am hoping next year we can plan to get together as a family again. We never use the deck anymore.

Peter and Bonni's Wedding

I failed to mention that Randy and I, Kathy and John had a wonderful time in May. We went to Montana to Peter and Bonni's wedding. We met new people and saw new places. I have to say that Wyoming is a very desolate place. Bonni came from a small town in Wyoming with fewer than 300 people. There are more kids in her family than I have ever seen. Half the woman in her extended family were either pregnant or carrying a babe in arms. They were working on the roads there and it was like riding on a sheep trail or a washboard. They were married on May 28th, a day after Peter's birthday. They are now residing in Lincoln Nebraska where Peter works as a diesel mechanic and Bonni is going to school We wish them the best and are very proud of them.

New Grand Baby: Congratulations Michael and Brooke

I finally got to see my great grand baby. His name is Ryan Opfar. He was born in December pf 2010. His parents are Michael and Brooke Opfar. I think he is number 6. I am expecting another one another one soon.

The are starting a brand new life in Green Bay Wisconsin. I wish them well and hope they can get their life in order and have lots of success and enjoyment.

A Fun 4th of July

We enjoyed a very wonderful 4th of July. We went camping at Little Mill and Monica and Jay came up. We went for a ride and found many wonderful camp sites. We also went to Cascade Springs and had lunch in Heber City. That night Monica and Jay made a wonderful dutch oven dinner. There were a lot cloud bursts when we were there but it was wonderful with the smell of the rain.

My health problems persist but I have not had a really bad pain attack for more than a month. Also still have some nerve pain. They are trying to figure out why I am so anemic. Thinking it might be celiac disease but more testing has to be done and if I don't have anymore attacks, they may not do the testing. It consists of biopsies of the small intestine.

Mother's Day 2011

Tina and Kipp at Mim's on Mother's Day

Dom and Tina Mother's Day

Matt and Kelly Mother's Day Crystal Hot Springs

Picnic Crystal Hot Springs

Kelby and his Cheetos

Aunt Monica and Kelby

Mother and Me 1944



Jay and Andy


I had a wonderful Mother's Day weekend. We went RVing at Crystal Hot Springs with Jay and Monica. Matt and his family came up and the kids all went swimming. The Friday and Saturday before Mother's Day was very nice, but then on Mother's Day, there was cold rain all day. Tina and Kipp came up and since we could not do a picnic, they tooks us to a little old bar called Mim's. Tne only place we found open in the little town of Corinne. They sure make good hamburgers there. We had Dom with us so we had to sit in a special place where people under 21 could sit. Tina gave me a beautiful blouse and Bath and Body Works shampoo, conditionor and pillow spray. Monica gave me a cat wind chime and some nuts because she said WE ARE NUTS ABOUT YOU.  But the best gift was having the family there. I didn't get a photo of the kids swimming so I hope Matt posts some.  The kids had a blast in the pool. I am so glad that warm weather is finally coming, (at least I hope so) I would also like to say that I had a very wonderful mother and I do miss her every day.



Some Thoughts on My Life

I have had two good men in my life. They are not without short comings, but they were there for me and would do anything for me. Most people would say I should not have chosen who I did, but who are they to know what is in my heart?

I have four wonderful daughters and three wonderful daughters-in-laws. They are so talented. I could not have asked for more

I have three wonderful sons. Hard working and dedicated and good family men. I also have have four great sons-in-laws. They are very good to me. They are great to be with.

I am not the mother I should have been. I have tried at least but failed miserably at times.

I am very proud of my kids. They have succedeed in life despite their parenting.

Nobody should judge another unelss you have walked in their shoes. I am guilty of this at times.

I have very few friends and it's because I am a loner and do not really want friends. Getting together with friends once or twice a year is enough for me.

I am not spiritual enough. I am a die hard skeptic.  But I do try to see the good in all things. I know there is a higher power.

I have lots of regrets. But I have made it through some very stressful times. I have not given up where others would have.

I went back to school and furthered my education and got a good job when I was almost 50.

I like perfection but have long ago found out that sweating the small stuff can be hard on your health.

I have always had low self-esteem. I wish I had more confidance in myself.

I have had bad health for most of my life but I have a lot to be thankful for because I am still here and compared to many, my health has been great.

Sometimes I try to please too many people and then I need to realize that I cannot always please everyone.

I am glad I was born when I was. I got to experience so many things that young people today will never experience.

Lastest News: Nothing New Really

Copperton Utah Bingham Utah

Narrowest Town in America

Open Pit Copper Mine in Bingham Canyon

Kathy and Randy at the Mine

Me and Kathy at the Mine

We don't get out much and when we do, it's usually going to the DR. We jokingly say that our complete social life is going to the DR and then maybe grocery shopping or out to eat. The ladies at the DR's office laugh when we tell them that coming to see the DR is the extent of our social life.

Not much else is new. Still waiting for warmer weather. By the time the snow melts, it will probably be time to snow again. I am seriously thinking of spending the winter in a warmer place but it is hard when you have a home to maintain as well. I did get another great grandchild. Her name is Miriam Elizabeth Riehle courtesy of JJ and his wife Samantha. We plan to attend Peter's wedding in Montana in May and visit Tammy in June and then possibly visit Jennifer in the Fall. We want to go camping in the summer and the summer just isn't long enough to do all we want to. Hoping maybe I can get to see Marty and his family too sometime.

I am still having pain issues and I am going to see a specialist. Hopefully something can be done. Life is not much fun when pain is on your agenda every day.

We did take a trip to Bingham Canyon mine. It's part of Kennecott's open pit mine. Years ago, the town of Bingham was a very narrow town of one mile long and a a block wide. The town does not exist anymore however. It was taken over by the mine in 1971.

ACNES Abdominal Cutaneous Nerve Entrapment Syndrome

http://xnet.kp.org/permanentejournal/sum02/acnes.html

After months of pain and numerous medical tests that were totally unnecessary, the only other diagnosis found is Abdominal Cutaneous Nerve Entrapment Syndrome. Which is a pinched nerve somewhere in the spine or ribs which can come and go depending on if it is aggravated or moved by posture etc. Unfortunately, normal x-rays cannot see it so a DR who is familiar with the condition needs to inject lidocaine into the spot where the pain is concentrated the most. I kept trying to tell them where the pain started but they just assumed it was gallbladder or liver problems and had me tested.

One top of this condition, I do have spinal arthritis which may be contributing to the pressure on the nerve. And I also have pressure that cause my arms and shoulders to spasm and burn. I do have a crooked spine and humpback and round shoulders which cause my spine to curve inward. Randy had it with his hip for years and it was not taken care of until his hip surgery and no DR even thought what it might be. Even young people can have this problem.

So I need to find a DR who can treat this but in the mean time my DR wants me to have more tests and an MRI which I don't think will do any good. (I already had one of my brain and I guess I still have a brain.)I think I will have to go to a pain specialist. The pain can be very bad and if feels like you are dying. But after all the tests I have, I am perfectly healthy except for the nerve entrapment. All I know is maybe that's what my mother had with all her pain. They say it's quite a common condition but it seems most Dr's don't know much about it. My DR finally said that I probably have it but he has no answer on what to do next.  So I have to learn to live with the pain and I never know whether it will be here tomorrow or gone for a few days. So very discouraging. I hope I can find a DR who knows had to treat it. That is all I can say.

On top of this problem, Randy got bit by Wellington and it become infected. We are contemplating letting him go as well as a couple of other cats. Wellington is a good cat but not with Randy's white female. He stalks her all the time and when Randy tried to get him away, he bit Randy. Too many cats with too many different personalities. Gimli and March and Blue do OK but the others all have their problems. So we may just have to let some go.

Waiting...for better health and better Weather

It has been a very long hard winter and I don't think it is over yet. So there is really nothing new. Randy is recovering nicely and I have been fighting pain for several months. I have been tired and dizzy with bad pain in my upper stomach and a pain that runs up my shoulders and neck and down both my arms and hands. After numerous tests, I find out it is because of my spine pressing on nerves. I have really bad arthritis and the shape of my spine has caused these nerves to be pinched. It has been some of the worse pain I have ever had. Just like a lighted match burning me. At least I do not have anything wrong internally and my colitis has burned itself out and I probably won't have it ever again. So because of the dizziness I may have nerves pressing on blood vessels so now I have to have another MRI on my cervical spine. So if you ever get a weird pain and they cannot find what it is, it could be your spine. What I have is called Intercostal Neuralgia Syndrome.  Some days I feel really good and others are terrible but I am on some medication that is supposed to help with nerve pain. We did manage to go to St George for Randy's birthday and even though I was sick most of the time, it was still nice to get out. We went home the long way through Hwy 89 and I saw a lot of old truck and cars which made me think of my boys, Marty and Matt. They just love old cars and trucks.

I hope I feel better soon. Maybe we will still be able to do some camping if the snow melts in the mountains before it starts snowing again. We also plan to visit Tammy this summer if things work out and go to Peter's wedding in Montana the last of May. I would also like to visit Jennifer and Marty during the summer. It's too bad we have such long winters spent cooped up and then we have to try to do everything when the weather is good and the time goes by too fast.

I am sorry that I have been sick and not been very good at communicating with all of my family.  I am glad to hear that I will soon have two more great grandchildren. Anyway, here's wishing everyone a very happy Spring and Summer and know I am thinking of all of you always.

Randy at Carmel Junction for his Birthday
Our trip to St George

I

Cabin Fever, Sick of Snow!

Well bloggers, it's been a while. Just not much news. I am tired of winter, snow and cold. I wonder if Spring will ever come. We are doing OK. I have been feeling a little better and Randy is too. Although he still tires easily. This it to be expected because he went through two major surgeries in a week's time.  Randy gave up coffee cold turkey because caffeine does cause the heart to beat faster and irregular. We may not camp this year, at least not until later in the summer. We want to go visit Jennifer and Tammy and go to Peter's wedding in May. So it depends on our health and we are hoping gasoline does not go above $4.00 a gallon.

I almost lost my Jennifer. She went in for minor same day surgery and ended up almost bleeding to death because they nicked an artery. She had to be rushed b;y ambulance to another hospital. She kept blacking out. Her body filled up with blood and fluid and she gained over 30 pounds. She had most of her blood replaced and had a really hard time and all of us were very scared. Robert was so worried and now he is helping her get her strength back.  He and the kids have been really good to her. She is still really tired but we pray she will be fine soon. I think she should take legal action. I know with this bad experience she will be hesitant to see a DR again but I hope she will if she needs and does not let this scare her if she needs medical care. Just remember to tell those we love that we care about them, we just never know how much longer they will be with us. Life is precious and can be gone in an instant.

Well Randy is having a birthday on Sunday and if all goes well, we are going to St George for a couple of days. Hope the weather will be better. Hoping all of you have a wonderful Spring, (if Spring ever gets here) and be healthy and happy.

On the news front, I did get another little great grandson. Michael and Brooke have a little boy, Ryan Opfar. Born Dec 2010. They also got married. So I wish them congratulations. I hope I see them someday when the time is right.

What a January!

My, we have been through a lot lately. Randy went in for hip surgery and came out with hip and heart surgery. When he was in the hospital for his surgery, the nurse said his heart was doing weird things. He had many tests done on it and found out some of his arteries were blocked. He could have dropped dead at any time. So he had a 6 by-pass heart operation as well as his hip operation. I have been really stressed. Having lost Alex. I was doing a deja vu.

Randy came through both surgeries fine. There is a long recovery time however. The thing that scared me the most was that he had a couple of hypoglycemic attacks. Those can be very serious. It's when your insulin levels get too low. You can go into shock. The DR had told him to give himself an insulin shot in the morning and at night and taking it at night lowered his insulin to very low levels. He had cold sweats, his body temp was only 95 and he was shaking all over and could not get warm. Luckily the home health nurse came and they finally got him better. He had to drink hot water, Ensure and pile on a lot of blankets. He was actually very irritated and slurring his words. That was a close call! Now he does not take his insulin at night and that is not happening. I sure had to live in a really hot house for a couple of days when he was so cold. He is on medication to keep his heart rate good and his hip no longer hurts. They had found an impingement in his hip joint as well as arthritis. Of course, he is still weak but getting stronger every day. I have had to be Randy's nurse for a while and I can tell you it is hard work. Those medical people deserve a medal for all they do. They work 12+ hour shifts and are so dedicated. I also appreciate having the home health people who come and do heart and hip therapy. We are blessed to have these options with our Medicare and I know people think we spend too much on government medical programs, but we would not have been able to do without these programs. The hospital alone was over 200,00K. We only had to pay $1200.

I have been more tired than I have ever been in my life. I have had a bad winter with my fibromyalgia. Now it actually feels like my MS may be coming back. I am really dizzy, extremely tired and weak. Hopefully it is just stress and is caused by all the things that have been going on. I do go to the DR tomorrow and get things checked out.

I would like to thank those in my family who have helped. Tina for sitting with me during the surgery, Monica and Jay for visiting Randy and giving him moral support and especially for John and Kathy who have helped me with the cats and the house cleaning. And for Tammy, Matt and Jennifer who have called me and given me moral support. I hope things will be back to normal soon and I do appreciate everyone. I also am thankful Randy's sister who lives very far away but she has called and given her support. And also Randy's friends in California and Arizona.

There may be no camping this summer but we will still do road trips I am sure. Randy has to be careful of his hip until everything heals up well and camping is maybe a little too much physical work for him this year. Bless all of you and thanks you for offering to help me in these tough times.

My Cute Grandchildren

Felicia with Keira
Such a Happy Giggly Little Girl!

Brandon, Me,  Felicia and Keira

Chevy
Such a Handsome Young Man!
Kids Grow up Way too Fast

Contessa and Little Kennedy
Such Pretty Blue Eyes and Such
A Great Big Smile!

In Sickness and in Health

Randy is in the hospital. He had to have a complete hip replacement. He has been in pain for ages. They also found a femur acetabulum impingement. Something was pinched between the ball and socket of his left hip. That was one reason for all that pain. I hated to have him go through surgery. After all I went through with Alex, I never wanted to have to go through that again. But to find one of the causes of his pain, I guess I am glad he went through it. Also, they found a problem with his heart. It is an irregular beat. So the echocardiagram showed something wrong and he has to have a heart stress test tomorrow to find out more. If things check out OK, then he will go to the convalescent home for a few days. If not, then I do not know exactly when he will be released. He is walking and eating now. He is just really tired at this point.

He has no pain and he did have a fever but it is gone now.  His blood sugars are really high which the hospital did not really seem concerned about. They said after surgery, the hormones of the body take time to adjust. I guess with all these complications, it is good that he had surgery anyway because they found another problem for his pain and they were able to find something with his heart and I am hoping they can do something about that if needed.

As for me, I had a rough time last week with upper stomach pain. They tested my gall bladder and did not find anything but want to do more tests. I myself believe it was pancreatitis brought on by a bad reaction to a drug I had been taking for a couple of months. I started noticing upper stomach fullness, pain and gas when I first started the drug and it finally got so bad that I was doubled over with it. If I ate anything, it was 10 times worse. I have been off the drug for several days now and I have no more stomach pain but I am going to see the DR to have my pancreas and other organs checked out.  That drug I took did say that some people get pancreatitis while on it. So it's no fun to get old. Wish we could get new bodies that did not give us so much trouble.

January News

Randy and I at The Red Lobster
My Birthday 2011

Randy and I at Mimi's
My Birthday 2011

Tina and Kipp at Red Lobster
My Birthday 2011

Thanks to all those wished me a happy birthday and for all of the gifts I received.

The holidays are over and I can't say I am sad about that. The holidays get to be a little bit much with all those commercials over and over etc. Glad to get back to normal. It has been a very hard winter with lots of snow and a lot of COLD. Everyday from now on, gets closer to summer. YAY!! Winter is so gloomy. I have ordered me a warm light to bring the sunshine in on these cold winter days.

Next week Randy will have hip surgery. I hope it helps his pain and that he recovers quickly.