Every morning, as I am getting dressed, I look out our bedroom closet window at the temple.
I was very surprised one morning when I saw a hot air balloon floating in the sky. Reminded me of when we lived in Albuquerque and went to the early-morning hot air balloon fiesta. So many balloons on the ground and in the air. Not so common to see balloons here in Utah.
I spotted the balloon on the same day Madison turned 12 years old.
Madison invited us to attend her Beauty and the Beast play at her elementary school. I am always impressed with the quality of costumes and how well the children know their parts. Impressive to learn there was a whole second cast performing other performances as well.
Madison was cast as one of the three silly girls who were always primping and swooning over Gaston.
The boy playing Gaston really got into his part. He was adorable and fun to watch--as was his sidekick and the three silly girls.
Madison was also a twirling plate in one scene. She is on the far right.
Madison and Rebecca came to our home after the play to see Claire and Jacob who had arrived from their long drive from Omaha. Jacob was switching out a car with Natalie and was literally turning around and driving right back home.
But never fear, they made it here in time to go on a tour of the Utah State Capitol with Emma that day.
The next day was game day where Jacob took his three girls and Ben to Claire's first basketball game at BYU in the Marriott Center. And bonus for everyone--BYU won!
Emma and her friend Brooke had been staying at our home the whole week. They had jobs as interns at the Capitol building.
Knowing their final week there would involve long hours, Emma had the brilliant idea for them to stay here so they didn't have to make the long commute back and forth from Provo each morning and evening.
It was fun to see them all dressed up in their business attire each morning as they came down for breakfast. Such cute girls. I really enjoyed having them here and hearing about their experiences each day.
So happy Emma was able to have that internship experience since she enjoyed it so much, and so glad the week she was staying with us was the time Jacob and Claire came to town. Fun for everyone.
Speaking of fun...
Glen got a surgery care package delivered from Abe and Klarissa. Anticipating Glen's upcoming total hip replacement, they wanted Glen to be equipped with things to make his recovery a little better.
We had one last pre-surgery weekly luncheon with Dad, Mom, and Nani. Glen was the one taking the photo. He was there at El Matador with us, although Mexican food is definitely not his favorite meal.
After five and a half weeks of "anticipation," the big surgery day of March 9th was upon us.
This is Glen with his own two HORRIBLE hips ready to walk out the door wearing the cute shirt and tear away sweatpants from Abe and Klarissa's care package.
Glen reported to the surgical center at 7:45. Once back in his room, we saw this time estimation. He didn't get called back until around 10:00.
The doctor called me a little over an hour later to report the deed was done. He confirmed what the x-rays had shown that Glen really needed a new hip.
We thought it was kind of funny when the doctor asked Glen how he felt about the length of his leg. He said he would give him a little length, and he would match up his other hip later.
Funny asking a tall man how he feels about his height. Just wondering if he would have shortened his leg if Glen had wanted???
When I walked into the recovery room, Glen had his right arm across his body holding onto his left shoulder. He was fully awake and chatting up a storm with his nurse. As time went on, he kept his arm in this position.
I was thinking back to when the anesthesiologist had told him he would be given an epidural while awake. He would then be moved to the operating table where Glen would adjust himself into a comfortable position on his left side with his right arm brought up to his shoulder where it would be secured to keep it out of the way.
As I was observing Glen, I noted there was nothing keeping his arm bound in that position and finally asked him why he was holding his arm like that. He said he didn't know. The nurse said she was glad I asked because she had been wondering the same thing!
Since Glen was staying into the afternoon waiting for the epidural to wear off, they brought lunch to not only him, but to me as well. So kind of them! The nurse was telling us how well all the staff is treated and she loves working there.
Time for the guy to get on his feet and try out his new hip.
Double success as he not only went for a stroll but also stopped at the bathroom. I had them take him on "the stairs to nowhere" as they call it so he could practice doing stairs since that would be his goal once he got home--to get down to the basement and get settled in his recliner as soon as possible.
After completing those tasks, Glen was able to be discharged. He had become quite fond of his nurse. I could not believe how chatty he was with her and she was cute in her responses back to him. He gave her the date of his next surgery and is hoping she will be his nurse once again.
Just learned that when she called the next day to follow up, she told Glen she had scheduled herself to be his nurse for his next hip surgery.
Once back home, Glen was definitely in need of the use of his new walker.
He made it down the stairs just fine and got all settled in the basement and then the pill taking, the nursing, and the healing began.
The guy couldn't be happier about the timing of his recovery period and being able to sit in front of the nonstop March Madness ball games on TV day after day after day.
True to form, Glen requested an Arby's meal and a Nielsen's concrete for his dinner. He always wants Arby's after any surgical procedure.
Our dear friend Jan brought over a Cafe Rio meal. This is from a woman who has had her jaw wired shut for weeks and weeks and hasn't been able to chew food for all that time. What a sacrifice on her behalf!!
Another day Grant and Diane came over with a big bowl of caramel popcorn. We have such thoughtful friends!!
After a few days of good eating and the original pain meds wearing off, Glen was really hurting. He couldn't stand being on the narcotic pain medication, so he went off that cold turkey. He got a fever one day and said that was his lowest point in his recovery.
On day five after surgery, he made his way up two flights of stairs and was exhausted. He needed to take a shower so we could change his bandage.
He mustered up the strength to shower, and I mustered up the courage to get the bandage changed. Looking at wounds is not my forte. In fact, I get full body cringe just thinking about wounds and bruises and bleeding, etc. But we both were strong and got through it all.
He is supposed to change his bandage every other day. Each time it is getting a little easier for him, but he is still exhausted after the process of showering.
One day when Glen wasn't feeling like eating anything, he decided he wanted shrimp and potato chips for his meal. I had to laugh about that. Shrimp is now our after-surgery joke. I was prepared for shrimp this time.
Glen had requested shrimp after his neck surgery years ago. I had ignored his request, thinking it was such an odd thing to want after surgery, and did not buy any when I went to the store. He was so disappointed about that as he had really wanted shrimp.
And then, miraculously, the doorbell rang and our friends, the Brimleys, were standing there with a plate of shrimp and a note that said, "Get well soon. Love, the Shrimps." They are all very tiny, short people and we thought that was so funny.
How inspired they were to know exactly what Glen needed at the exact moment he needed it!
Oh, happy day when Glen started eating better again. An even happier day was when he was finishing up his last antibiotic pill after ten days of taking them every 6 hours. He felt like they made him feel nauseous and he didn't like the taste of the pill in his mouth.
When it came time for our weekly meal with my parents and Nani, they were going to bring food to us. That was when Glen was feeling very poorly and did not want to eat much, so I went to lunch with them at the Greenery Restaurant at Rainbow Gardens.
That place is so cute, and we enjoyed our meals and took a walk through the huge gift store there. Lots to see. (Sorry, Dad, for not taking several photos so I could choose one with your eyes open...)
In case one would wonder if I was neglecting my husband the times when I had commitments during the week, check out how many times I went up and down the stairs that first week and a half after surgery. Lots of ice packing during the day for him.
The past few days he has not been using his walker as much and has been able to get up the stairs and fix his own breakfast. He loves gaining some independence.
Rebecca enjoyed some hiking with her family at Goblin Valley before she got two more toenails removed and her feet are now sore.
After all the drama with her sepsis experience and her black big toe and the months and months of recovery from that, she has been very hesitant to get these other problem toenails removed. She also had to get some acid put on the recovered sepsis toe as a little part of her toenail was growing.
That's a lot for this girl to handle which has caused her a little PTSD. She is on a ten-day antibiotic regime, so all should be well with her--once she stops bandaging her toes and can wear shoes again.
Abe was thinking of us when he was dunking his french fries in his shake from Checker's. While living in Georgia, I used to take the kids there sometimes when Glen was out of town when I didn't want to cook. Fond memories for my boy all these years later.
Look at his baby Monty all grown up turning 5 years old. Such a sweet smile.
Happy St. Patrick's Day from Magnus and Wynne!!!
