Wildlife camera

Brian and Krissy came up for the weekend.  On Saturday they took Ron up to Starkey on the 4 wheelers and retrieved the wildlife cameras that are set up there.  When they got back, there were 1953 good pictures of elk!  We were excited to have such good images of the elk but I must admit after about 750 elk pictures, we were hoping for a wolf, bear, cougar, moose, mountain goat, or anything other than an elk!  But, at least we got some good evidence of the elk that live up there!

pUrPleRonASaurus

Four year old Kresimir has always wanted a purple dinosaur. Last year for his birthday we asked him what he wanted and he said, "A purple dinosaur." For Christmas, we asked, "What do you want for Christmas," and he answered, "A purple dinosaur." This year for his birthday and Christmas, we asked the same question and got the same answer. I'm thinking, "It's time to find this boy a purple dinosaur!" So, in my attempt to be Grandmother of the Year, I went in search of a purple dinosaur! Well, as you might guess, purple dinosaurs don't exist. So, I decided to "discover" a lost breed of dinosaur--the Purpleronasaurs. I went to the craft store and bought a dinosaur. Then I consulted with the hobby guy, "How do you paint a dinosaur purple?" (I know, it's a dumb question, but I'm not a crafty person!!!) So, he directed me to the paint, gave a few instructions like, "He shouldn't put the dinosaur in the bathtub with him or in a kiddy pool," (remember that, KY).

Well, here he is--Purpleronasaurus. Isn't he cute? Do you think Kres will like his purple dinosaur? What grandma's won't do for their grandkids!

I love visitors

Since I have been down and out, I have enjoyed a variety of visitors.  Trey stopped by to show off his new, dressy outfit.  He's really a handsome young man!  Great outfit, Trey.

Ky has stopped by with the kids on several occasions,  Dad read stories to Kres, and Kres and Ella loved playing in the big tree out in front of the condo

I Cried!

I felt like crying.

I looked at the clock--3 a.m.--I couldn't sleep and was sitting in the big chair in the living room.

My legs hurt soooo bad, both of them.  If asked to describe the pain, I would say, "It feels like giant snakes are going up and down my leg spewing their venom as they go." 

But, no one was there to tell that to.  Just me.  In pain.

Yesterday my back was swollen like a soft ball.  I iced it.  It didn't help.

It worried me.  I called the Dr's office.  "Come in tomorrow," she said.  "9:45"

Now, only 6 3/4 hours until 9:45!

I prayed  the pain would  go away--that I could sleep.  And

I cried.

Cribbage "15-2, . . . .15-1?"

The other day I was bored, so Isent Ron to the store to buy a Cribbage game.  We often sit around on Sunday evening and play, and I win a little les than half the time.  But I love to play.

Anyone who knows the game, knows that you count cards that add up to 15 or 31, as the case might be. 
You deal 6 cards to each player, and each player puts 2 in the "kitty". It's a pretty simple game. 

But, wait, add a pain pill to a muscle relaxer and then try to count to 15!!

Here's an example of how our game went.  Ron layed down a 10 and said, "ten", I then laid down a five and said , "Fifteen for 2"  I then proeeded to move Ron's peg two points instead of my own.  "Wait," he said, "what are you doing?"  I'm moving my peg two points  "but that's my peg--Im blue, you are red. You moved my peg." 

"oh," I said and then moved my red peg 2 in front of his blue peg."  "now what are you doing." 

"I don't know??"{ I said.  "I moved my red peg like you said."  "just don't touch the pegs," he said, as he moved them correctly.  "Now I play the next card."  He layed down a 2 and said, "17"  I laid down a 7 and said, "7".  He huffed a little and said, "now let's start all over. We had 15, and i laid down a 2 for 17.  Then you laid down a 7.  What's 17 + 7?".  I looked confused, an used myh fingers to count 17 + 7.
 "24" I proudly announced.

Ron laid down a 7 and said "31 for a go and a pair worth 2 for a total of 4."
By then I was totally befuddled and ready to cry.  ":What happened to 35?"
He was in shock--but patienely told me 35 has nothing to do with the game.    So,I started to gather the cards and shurrle them   "WHat are you doing," he asked befuddled.  I'm  suffling the cards. "

"WAit, put those cards down, we \ need to do our count."
"I thougt our ount was 35!" I said,
"isn't it your nap time?"  Roln asked
"Well, maybe,"  I said, "but you promised me a game of Cribbage". . . .

Whoever claims drugs don't affect cognitive skills has never played Cribbage after taking a powerful pain pill and a muscle relaxer!  Poor 'Ron--He' s a trooper.

On a lighter note . .

Kim did such a great job of blogging our summr activities, but she wasn't around for everythng.  So today I'm doing another "Random Blog" from summer, and trying to keep my mind on something besides pain. 

One day the kids found a nest of baby quail in an old tire on our place.  There were about 18 of them and no mom in sight!

Rob, Jodi and Trey stopped by one Sunday afternoon and offered a ride to Wallowa Lake.  It was a rainy day, but always a beautiful drive.  Here are Rob andJodi by the lake. 

Everyday the kids checked the birds.  They started with about 18 and they all died but 4.  Ron realized they couldn't get out of the tire to hunt for food, so he fixed it so they could get out.  After that, they wereen't seen again!

Randy was the coach of the East Shrine team.  They lost, but played a good game.  It's always fun to watch him coach.  That's him in the red had.  My blog is confused, I don't know why.  But, I try.  It keeps me entertained! 

On my way back from Hell!

On October 9,2009, I underwent back surgery to free a pinched siatic nerve.  So, to my surprise, when I went to the Dr for my 9 month check up, he informed me I had a broken back!  After considering the option of a lifetime in a wheelchair on pain pills, or surgery to fuse a couple of vertebrea, I opted for a trip to Hell--surgery!  It involved removing a disc, scraping bone from my right pelvis, putting the scrappings into a corkskrew, inserting it where the disc had been, and holding it in place with a metal plate and 2 screws. 

The surgery took from 9-12, and when I woke up, I was, literally, in HELL!  I know that isn't a polite word, but it seems to fit nicely for my situation.  Every time I moved, I was in extreme pain and dizzy.  Every time I ate, I threw up.  I often fell asleep while eating.  THey informed me I had to walk to the end of the hall, which was at least 50 miles long, I swear!.  I told them I was dizzy, and they said, "WALK!"  So, I took off, being supported by a walker and a Geek belt (fastened around the chest to hold me up if I fell.  "I'm dizzy," I said.  And they said "Keep going, your're doing fine." 

"But I'm, dizzy.  OK, now I'm fainting,"

 and down I went.  I found myself sitting in a wheelchair, and as soon as I woke up a little, they said, "We really need you to walk."  They settled for a few steps.  I talked them into letting me sit in a chair for awhile before having to walk, and putting me on less powerful pain medication.  That all helped.  So, on Thursday afternoon, after making sure the vital parts of the body were moving, they sent me home.  I am now at the condo, and Ron is a great care giver.  Krissy relieves him in the evening, and sometimes he leaves while I am sleeping to run to the store.  Again, my blog is as confused as I am, but I'll keep trying.  My journey from hell is getting a little easier!  I'll try to keep you posted!