Pacemaker Replaced; Second Hip Surgery Completed; Visit From Uncle Lloyd; Mother's Day

Natalie and Emma took a flight home to Omaha where Emma received her own endowment in the Winter Quarters Nebraska Temple.

Their friends in Nebraska gave Emma a bridal shower. 

Emma posted some sweet engagement photos of her and Wesley taken at the Utah State Capital.

I fit in my pacemaker replacement surgery a week and a half before Glen's second hip replacement surgery. 

It was a blessing for me that the IV was successful on the first stick. Hurrah!!

The surgery went well and the recovery was easy. My only complaint with the surgery was I woke up with my mouth so dry I literally didn't have any spit. This went on throughout the rest of the day making it very difficult to eat. Thankfully, by morning I was producing saliva once again.  

I received a sweet flower delivery. When I opened the door, there was a young woman and her mother standing there holding a bouquet of flowers. The previous Sunday they had been in our home for Glen to give the daughter her patriarchal blessing.

At first, I thought they were delivering flowers to Glen as a thank you for the blessing until I saw my name on the note. I asked how in the world they knew I was recovering from surgery. Glen had delivered her patriarchal blessing the morning of my surgery and they asked him if he had any fun plans for the rest of the day and he told them we would soon be off to the hospital for me to have minor surgery. 

They were laughing about him using the wording "minor" surgery. I told them compared to Glen's "major" hip replacement surgery, mine was definitely "minor" surgery. 

I always enjoy looking at a bouquet of flowers when I am recuperating from a surgery or an illness and am homebound for a while. What a thoughtful gesture!

The following week we went to see The Hunchback of Notre Dame at Hale Centre Theatre. Their photo op backgrounds are always so elaborate and keeping in the theme of each play. So impressive!

After the play we went to eat our usual Red Lobster meal.

I was able to fit in a lunch date with my friends celebrating Colleen's birthday. She chose Flower Child restaurant. It's always nice to be with this group of women.

The next day was Hip Hip Hooray #2 surgery day. Here's a pre-op Glen photo. He (and I) had been dreading this day because we knew what pain Glen was going to have to once again endure.

The first surgery he was in so much pain for weeks prior to the surgery that he was looking forward to it. This time, his left hip was not causing him pain and so that made it harder to be excited about the upcoming surgery. 

What Glen was looking forward to was getting his left leg lengthened to match the new length of his right leg.

They got him all prepped and we had to wait for a bit before they took him back. 

It was nothing like my surgery where I was prepped and ready at the hospital and we waited for hours before the doctor showed up. He and a group of other doctors took a small plane to Rock Springs, Wyoming the day before to do a training meeting and ended up being delayed there overnight because of a snowstorm. 

In under an hour, I was called back to see my groggy husband. 

Last time after surgery he was keeping his right arm across his body hugging his left shoulder. This time he had his left arm up resting on his head. Funny guy!

Look how happy he was when they brought him his Jimmy John's sandwich and chips. Once again, they included me in the lunch meal. It is so nice to get us through the time we spend there waiting for the epidural to wear off so Glen can get up and walk before they would send him home.

He went for a walk and used the bathroom and while he was gone, they moved his bed out and pulled in a chair. When he felt ready and steady enough to get dressed, he was then discharged to go home.

Here's the Hip Hip Hooray #2 guy all smiles knowing the surgery he had been dreading was finally over. He was thrilled to have both his legs the same length once again. 

He made the trip down the stairs just fine and got settled in his recliner. We were figuring out his pill regime once again. He absolutely hates taking pills! 

That evening we had Arby's and Nielsen's frozen custard for dinner.

Caroline dropped by to give us each a treat after their family visit to Texas Roadhouse--YUMMMY rolls for me and peanuts for Glen.

We got back in our routine of eating together in the basement.

This guy soon started feeling worse and worse before he started getting better. Nothing sounded good to him, so he opted for some Ramen noodles.

He got a fever once again and that made him really feel horrible, and that's when I brought out the chips and shrimp--the food he insists on eating after surgeries now. We also had to buy him a lot more Gatorade as that was the only way he felt like he could stomach taking all his nasty-tasting medications.

Look at me feeling great and enjoying my food while he was feeling so lousy. 

Finally, on post-op day #6, my grizzly man decided he would make the climb up the two flights of stairs to take a shower. 

I cannot, for the life of me, figure out why all the Hallmark men think they need to have the scruffy beard look when I MUCH PREFER the clean-shaven look. I had a new, clean man on my hands!!!!

As with last surgery, I was getting in my exercise going up and down the stairs taking care of my husband. He's been doing lots more on his own now, so that is good since I have been abandoning him three days in a row. 

Our little Maverick is now three years old. This photo came up on my screen saver reminding me of the little preemie who had his first helicopter ride to Primary Children's Hospital. So thankful he is a healthy, growing boy these days.

My Uncle Lloyd and Aunt Ann were in town from Colorado. Mom is always so happy when she gets to talk with her brother on the phone, so she was extra happy to have him there in person. 

So thankful to Nani for taking a photo of them to mark the occasion since it had been many years since they have been together.

Then, surprise! Uncle Lloyd called to see if they could come and visit us since their rental vacation home was so close to our home. We congregated in the basement where Glen was convalescing, and we had a lovely visit together. 

I got in a nostalgic mood after seeing them, so I pulled up some photos I had scanned and saved on the computer. This is Uncle Lloyd and Aunt Ann in the kitchen of the home where I grew up on 22nd Street in Ogden.

I absolutely love looking at my Uncle Lloyd because he looks so much like Grandpa Malan. I pulled up a few photos of the Malan family looking for the family resemblance.

Here's a walk down memory lane with my Grandpa, Grandma, Mom, Lloyd and Mary Malan.

Grandpa Malan

Grandma Malan.

Grandpa and Lloyd.

Lloyd.

Mom

Mary

Nani and I decided it would be a fun thing to take Mom out to lunch for Mother's Day. We went to Hug-Hes and got delicious meals. 

We love the bread they serve at the beginning. This time we all got free ginormous cookies (can't believe I didn't take a photo of them!) because we waited so long for a server to come at the beginning of our time there. It was worth the wait to get the cookies!!

Dad decided to forego the lunch invitation with the girls and decided to take an Arby's lunch to Glen instead. That was so thoughtful of him, and Glen appreciated his meal immensely. (Hmmm, no photo of that either since men don't think to photo document everything in their lives.)

It was my turn to play the organ in sacrament meeting on Mother's Day. After the meeting, as each woman walked out the chapel doors, we were presented with a candy bar lei. 

All the women looked very cute wearing the leis all during Relief Society where they had a beautiful spread of muffins, fruit, cheese sticks, and water bottles all laid out for us to enjoy after a message was given by a member of the bishopric. I sure felt spoiled as I walked out of church that day.                        

We were not planning to have the kids over for Mother's Day dinner because Glen was not feeling like helping with the cooking at all and I didn't want to do it without his help.

Then Sarah decided to take matters into her own hands and planned an Olive Garden take-out meal that I picked up on Saturday for us all to enjoy without any of us having to cook. It was a fun idea. The food was delicious and we all had leftovers to enjoy the next day. 

It was the gift that kept on giving because we ate it for dinner the next two days.

Quotes of the Week

 To all mothers in every circumstance, including those who struggle---and all will---I say, Be peaceful. Believe in God and yourself. You are doing better than you think you are. In fact, you are saviors on Mount Zion, and like the Master you follow, your love never faileth. I can pay no higher tribute.

--Jeffrey R. Holland

How does a peacemaker calm and cool the fiery darts? Certainly not by shrinking before those who disparage us. Rather, we remain confident in our faith, sharing our beliefs with conviction but always void of anger or malice.

--Neil L. Andersen

When the storms in life come, you can be steady because you are standing on the rock of your faith in Jesus Christ. That faith will lead you to daily repentance and consistent covenant keeping, and through the storms of hatred and wickedness, you will feel steady and hopeful.

--Henry B. Eyring

As we accept the Lord's will, He teaches us how to walk with Him. ...Accepting His will in place of our own is key to finding joy no matter our circumstances.

--Larry S. Kacher

Quotes of the Week

 On earth we experience joy and sorrow as we are tested and proven. Our victory comes through faith in Jesus Christ as we triumph over our sins, difficulties, temptations, unfairness, and the challenges of this mortal life.

--Neil L. Andersen

Never forget that you came to earth as a child of the divine Father. The Lord did not send you here to fail. He bestowed upon you the gift of mortality that you might gain experience--positive, wonderful, purposeful experience--that will lead to life eternal.

--Gordon B. Hinckley

As you yoke yourself to Him, your burdens will feel lighter. If you will make and keep covenants to follow Jesus Christ, you will find that the painful moments of your life are temporary. Your afflictions will be swallowed up in the joy of Christ.

--Russell M. Nelson