Quotes of the Week

Consistency yields beautiful fruit. I testify that the Lord accepts every offering we make--no matter how imperfect we may feel at a given moment it may be.
--D. Todd Christoffersen

As we make current decisions, we should always be asking, "Where will this lead?"
--Dallin H. Oaks

Because it is His church, we as His servants will minister to the one, just as He did. We will minister in His name, with His power and authority, and with His loving-kindness.
--Russell M. Nelson

Quotes of the Week

We have to forego some good things in order to choose others that are better or best.
--Dallin H. Oaks

Feasting on the word of God each day is more important than sleep, school, work, television shows, video games or social media. You may need to reorganize your priorities to provide time for the study of the word of God. If so, do it.
Richard G. Scott

Along the way you will most likely stumble and fall -- falling is part of the qualifying process that allows you to refine your character and serve in a more compassionate way. The Savior and His infinite Atonement provide the way to overcome our mistakes through sincere repentance.
--Gary E. Stevenson

Influenza A and Valentine's Day

The very next day after we got home from our Disney World vacation, I got sick. I knew it was something worse than just a cold. I had a fever, body aches, runny nose, sneezing, coughing. I was miserable.

That is when I had to call my friend Jan and cancel out on her invitation to us to join our group of friends going to The Roof Restaurant. Boo hoo!!

Four days into the illness, we went to Urgent Care. 

When the medical assistant said the words "nose swab" I cringed! I have had several of those swabs where they stick a foot-long swab up so far it feels like it touches your brain. Not a good feeling. 

She saw my look of horror and assured me the nose swabs now don't require going up so far in the nostril. Hallelujah!!!! 

Didn't take long for her to walk back into the room to tell the doctor I tested positive for Influenza A. Unbelievable!! I've had a flu shot. This is the THIRD time I have gotten Influenza! 

The first time was on our Panama Canal cruise when we both had to be quarantined to our room until our fevers got back to normal. The second time was the first year on our mission. Now this is the THIRD time. UGH!! I knew I was in for miserable with that diagnosis.

This made me chuckle in light of the circumstances I found myself in at the moment I read it. 

The doctor told me I could go out in public after I was fever-free for 24 hours. I asked about the cough and he said if I covered my mouth and nose while coughing, I would be fine.

So...on BYU game day, I had been fever-free for 24 hours (but was still coughing), so off we went to meet up with Joey Kiehl, who came to us from Nicaragua when the Church closed that mission and had been one of our assistants, and his almost-future wife Natalie Jacobsen. They aren't officially engaged yet, but plans are in the works. 

We always enjoy it when our missionaries want to introduce us to their future spouse. These are two great people. 

I like to play "where's Waldo" or in this case "where are Joey and Natalie" in the sea of fans at the ball game.

Ah ha!! I found them! It helped that they were wearing blue and a lot of the students that day were wearing white.

After Glen taught Sunday School the next day we were off to Urgent Care a second time.

This time I had two chest x-rays checking for pneumonia. No pneumonia. I was given an antibiotic and prednisone and medication for my breathing treatment machine. Back home once again I went to try and get better.

I felt a little better the next day, but then no improvement from then on. Same coughing. Same feeling exhausted. Same not sleeping well. Same ongoing illness.

The huge snowstorm that dumped lots of snow offered a little distraction for me as I watched Glen go out in the freezing, blowing snow three different times throughout the day to remove the snow from the driveway and sidewalks.

He was removing snow from several of our neighbors' driveways as well. He was the super snowblower giving service that day, to be sure!

All this snow fell in less than 24 hours.

Glen declared it a bigger storm than the one that dumped on us on Thanksgiving.

This was something funny I sure enjoyed seeing on that snow day.

Look who was out enjoying the big snow storm. Cute snow family!!

Alas, on the 2-week mark of being sick, being on an antibiotic and all the other medications I had been given, I had a fever again. My coughing was getting worse. I was wheezing a lot. I was NOT getting better!!

So, back to Urgent Care we went for a THIRD time. Two more chest x-rays were taken. No pneumonia. I had such a bad case of the chills while I was there that I didn't think they could get a good x-ray because I was shaking so much.

The doctor said to stay on the antibiotic as it is a good one to cover illnesses like this. He didn't want to put me on another round of prednisone, but that is what I felt I needed.

He said to double up on my inhaler and keep doing the other stuff. The other stuff was not helping. I was frustrated and did not want to leave there until he gave me more help.

I asked if he would at least write a prescription for the prednisone and if I wasn't improving on his regime in the next few days, I would be able to start taking the prednisone. He reluctantly consented.

I went home and doubled my inhaler, kept doing the breathing treatments, kept taking the other medicines and was feeling sicker and sicker. My stomach started hurting after taking the antibiotic. I could feel I was over drugged and I was miserable!! 

After being awake all night Monday night wheezing and coughing my head off, I decided I was going to cut back on the medications, stop the breathing treatments and start taking the prednisone. 

In my heart I knew all along that is what I would need to get better. It has happened in the past. My lungs need the extra prednisone when I get this bad.

By that afternoon, my coughing was a lot less. I had a glimmer of hope that I might finally get well. 

Ben and Haley asked if they could come over and do their taxes on Glen's computer. I thought they were brave to want to come to the sick house. It was so delightful to have them here. Kade always makes us smile 

My favorite moment was when all three computers were open and Kade bellied up to the table and started working on one of the computers just like he was part of the tax-filing team.

The prednisone worked its magic and I was feeling great the next day when Madison came over to spend the morning with us while Rebecca went with Caroline on a field trip to the symphony.

Madison came very prepared for her expected lunch date with us to Costa Vida. She had her menu all written out and then illustrated it once she got here. She didn't want us messing up her order since her mom wasn't going to be going to eat with us that day.

(Kids meal chicken enchilada black beans mild sauce rice)

We colored for a while and played the Disney Memory Game. She made the majority of the matches because let's face it--her memory is much better than mine.

When she turned this card over, she said, "That's the Donald Trump card." I thought that comment was hilarious coming from such a little girl.

After her favorite Costa Vida meal, we made a quick run to Costco and then delivered her on time to school for afternoon Kindergarten.

It's February! It's our love month! Our anniversary was on the 9th and I was feeling too miserable to even care. But, 42 years of togetherness is worth a mention.

Today is Valentine's Day! It's a fun day to sprinkle love upon those around you. Kade has got the idea. 

 I enjoy so much when Haley is working on her photos a day and enjoyed these Valentine photos.

This is a little rundown of how our Valentine's Day has gone. Glen worked from home as usual in the morning.

We made a second-attempt try at getting my blood drawn to check my thyroid level after being put on thyroid medication 6 weeks ago.

Our first attempt the other day was at the Farmington office and I was told I couldn't get it drawn for another month. I felt that was different than what I was told at the doctor's office, but he was looking at the order and so I didn't get it drawn.

Speaking of drawing blood--Glen was a blood donor yesterday and was feeling pretty happy about it since he wasn't able to give blood the 3 years we were on our mission. He is a rapid bleeder, so it is a breeze for him to donate.

Now back to my blood drawing story... We had an errand to run in Salt Lake City, so we decided to try going to the lab at the University of Utah Hospital. The doctor's office had called earlier to say I was right and I should be getting labs now, so off we went.

SUCCESS!! First try! Bled like a champ! Two seconds and I was done! Glen's got nothing on me!!

We went to pick up a prescription at a compounding pharmacy after that. Another SUCCESS!!

At the VRX Pharmacy at City Creek I asked about getting my second shingles shot. I didn't feel like I should get it while being on prednisone now, but my 6-month window of getting it is fast approaching the end.

I also didn't want to get it today because I don't want to feel sick tomorrow (or EVER!!!) because we are going to a play with Dad and Mom.

I also didn't want to risk getting sick and having complications these next couple of weeks as we are trying to hit our optimal wellness so we can enjoy the cruise we've been planning for nearly 2 years now.

I was happy to hear the pharmacist agreed with me to wait a couple of weeks until after I'd finished the prednisone. I told him my 6-month mark is up the day after we get home from our cruise. Would that work to get it that day?

We were then informed that when there was a shortage of the vaccine, the manufacturer said to go ahead and get the second one within the year. When I heard that--I quit stressing over getting it immediately. WHEW!! A third SUCCESS for the day!!

We chose to eat our Valentine's meal mid-afternoon at Cheesecake Factory so we would beat the dinner rush. We still had to wait a while because other people must have had the same idea. Still, we considered it a fourth SUCCESS because the wait was only 10-15 minutes.

Our food was delicious. Glen enjoyed his salmon meal and I was savoring the delicious chicken piccata I had ordered. I had carefully portioned half of it to eat and half to take home with me for another delicious meal. YUM!!

We took a stroll through City Creek after our meal, enjoying our Valentine's date together...UNTIL...I looked down and realized I was not carrying my leftovers.

WHY??!!?? Because I had FORGOTTEN to PICK UP the BAG OF FOOD from the TABLE!! I was SO MAD at MYSELF!!

We quickly went back to the restaurant where we learned they had kept it for a few minutes, but then they have to throw the food away. After all the successes that day, this was an EPIC FAIL!!!

My heart was broken thinking about missing out on a delicious leftover meal another day. Then I saw a little Valentine's Day gift from Grant and Diane Stewart sitting on our front porch.

After I had eaten half of the big chunk of fudge, I was feeling a little more consoled about my loss. 

I also had the beautiful vase of Valentine's Day flowers to look at that Jan Evans had brought over yesterday. 

It has been a lovely Valentine's Day despite the little glitch. I have loved spending time with my sweetheart. I have loved getting Valentine's wishes and sweet gifts from friends. I have loved seeing the Valentine's photos on Instagram. 

Love is in the air all around and it's a good feeling.

Magic Kingdom; Good-bye Disney; One More Gelato; Home to Snow

Thursday we were off to Magic Kingdom.

There's the famous Disney castle!!

Gotta love Main Street, U.S.A.

Seeing the castle up close and in person never gets old.

Michael and Lynn were anxious to get their funnel cake snack.

As with the other parks, this one was also very crowded. As with the other parks, we weren't able to get FastPasses to the popular rides.

But lucky for us--or lucky for me because a trip to Disney World would not be complete without it--the line for It's a Small World was not outrageous.

I love this ride. It's so relaxing riding in the boat on the water seeing all the colorful, different countries.

And at the end of the ride everyone has the tune of

"It's a small world after all.
It's a small world after all.
It's a small world after all.
It's a small, small world."

stuck in their heads.

I perked up when we saw a Dole concession stand. I love Dole whips. It was a warmer day that day and the cool, refreshing treat sounded delicious to me (and to Lynn).

We went on the Pirates of the Caribbean ride. Glen had been able to get a FastPass for that ride.

Glen chose his good, old, trusty, stand-by favorite popcorn for his treat once again. We would be back later in the day to take the Jungle Cruise Expedition. Glen had been able to get us FastPasses for that ride.

We enjoyed our good weather in the morning while it lasted. Then it got cooler once again and the rain started to fall. So glad I had packed my Mickey Mouse umbrella. So glad I took it with me that day. 

After getting soaked walking around in the rain, we decided it was time for lunch and would hopefully wait out the rain under cover.

Luckily for us, we were able to find a table in the extremely crowded place we chose to eat. I think Glen's foot-long lived up to its name. That thing was huge!

The rain did not cease, but we went out in it anyway because we had a Jungle Cruise reserved for us. Let's just say the animals were not quite as lifelike as the animals we saw in Animal Kingdom.

We were wet and cold, but waited around the park long enough to see the Disney Festival of Fantasy Parade in the mid-afternoon.

It was worth the wait to see princesses--some we recognized...

...and others we knew nothing about.

Poor Ariel must have been freezing to death with her bare upper body and the rain falling on her. But, I guess she's used to the water. (Get the pun--she's a mermaid!)

Don't know what the dragon was all about, but it sure looked interesting--especially when it breathed out fire.

What a colorful and fun parade. It was worth standing in the rain to see. Well, I can say that because I had an umbrella.

On our walk out of the park, we heard a barbershop quartet singing. I wish we had been able to hear their whole performance.

One last look down Main Street, U.S.A.

Our Disney World vacation was coming to an end.

We spotted a rainbow after we had climbed the 6 flights of stairs to our villa. What a pleasant surprise.

Our step report for that day. It would have been more had the rain not descended upon us.

Friday was our last day together. We played a card game for a while in the villa after we had gotten everything packed up to go.

We admired the beauty of our surroundings one last time. 

Just as Lynn had promised, we went back for gelato one more time. Glen was so sad to see his favorite mint chocolate chip flavor was not in the display case.

The same server from Morocco was there and she so kindly went in the back and brought out a full, untouched pan of it from which she scooped for him and included lots of the chocolate topping.

Off to the airport we went. We thanked the Maughans profusely for the most delightful week-long vacation. How we appreciated their generosity and their friendship.

We landed safely in freezing, cold, snowy Salt Lake City, Utah.

Not very many steps were logged that day.

My heart had been full of gratitude for the trip. After all the weeks spent recovering from two heart surgeries with all the complications and the illnesses, it had been so nice to have something to look forward to. 

I was so thankful I felt healthy and strong enough to walk all those steps each day. I surprised myself when I felt enough energy to hike the 6 flights of stairs each day. I was feeling happy and healthy. It was a good feeling.