Monday, November 27, 2006

Time flies by!

I am amazed at how fast time seems to be going! I want to add to my blog more often, but the time just seems to get away from me.
This month has been fun. We got the chance to see Beauty and the Beast at Cyprus High School, and fell completely back in love with this show! I had seen it before, at the Shubert in LA several years ago, and then at Capital Theater in SL a few years after that. It was huge at the Shubert and about half that size in SL. This High School production was even smaller, but still great! I was able to take Madi and see it again at the Saturday Matinee. She totally loved it! We had a good time together.
The year is fast winding down, it's almost Christmas already! I hope we can get done what needs to get done before then, like the lights on the outside of the house. I love this season!

Sunday, October 08, 2006

Things go on

A lot has happened since my last blog, but most special of all was the birth of my newest grandchild, Taylor David Behling on August 30th, 2006. It was sooo amazing to be there assisting Stephanie as she was in labor and pushing. After all, she's my first daughter to give birth! I have 3 previous grandchildren, who I love just as dearly, but this was kind of special. I am so thankful she was okay about us being in the room with her. It wa a long labor, because she was induced and a lot of work, but when little Taylor came, it was very emotional for all of us. I was able to help by holding Stephanie's shoulders up for each push. Afterwards, I felt like I'd been doing pushups and my arms were sore for days, but I wouldn't have had it any other way. I am so thankful all went well and that the baby was fine. He weighed in at 8lbs, 12 oz, and 21 inches long. Heavenly Father is so kind and provides us with many opportunites to feel his presence, if we are in tune. I felt his presence throughout the whole miraculous event. Childbirth can definitely open the Heavens...Live, love and have joy everyday.

Monday, August 21, 2006

Life in the the 2000's

I haven't been keeping up with this very well, so here I am trying to write something.

We were in Klamath Falls and Medford during July to be part of my family reunion and 80th birthday for my Dad. It was quite an event and all went well. We worked hard on the food, and discovered we will do things differently next time. We want to do it again in 2 years.

Found out my Dad has an abdominal Aortic Aneurysm that is about 3 cm in size. Operations are not performed until they are 5 cms. Even then, he is opting NOT to have the surgery, because he does NOT want to die on the table, which is the most likely scenario with his COPD and age. I don't blame him and I want to support him in this decision. But I found info on a much less invasive prcedure that has just been developed, where a material is placed inside the aneurysm by means of a catherization, which expands and blocks off the aneurysm. The doctor said he could live up to eight years, just think of the advances of medicine in that amount of time. Maybe this procedure would be just the thing for him. I hope he looks into it. I sent him a link for a story from a TV station here in UT. I guess I've done all I can for now.

My former BIL, Joe, had to have a quadruple bypass done last week after suffering a massive heart attack last Monday. He's doing well and really dodged a bullet. He was in the right place at the right time with the right person. A friend Matt performed CPR and kept him alive until the paramedics arrived. He was in the airport in San Diego, having just gotten off a flight there. He really is lucky it didn't happen while in flight, although they do have defibulators and such on board, but it would have meant a longer time until he got to the hospital. He's doing very well, and they expect a complete recovery. Thank goodness. Even though he and Dolly are divorced, he is the father of their children and a friend to us.

I guess that's all for now.

Saturday, July 15, 2006

Life in the Library

There's so much to learn. I keep forgetting how to do another blog. I hope this is right.

A little more about Hanna. She was our 6th child and was born 10 weeks early, weighing just 3 lbs. 9 oz and was 15 inches long. Kind of small next to our other children. She spent her first 7 weeks in LDS Hospital in Salt Lake City, UT where she was born. She had many ups and downs while there. She struggled so hard to gain weight and to breathe on her own. She was a fighter through it all. I kind of knew she'd make it at that point, but I was also living in a bubble, believing things would be normal for her someday. Little did I know how wrong I was. I think most parents of very ill children want to believe their child will eventually be normal, it's one way of dealing with the actual grief you go through when you don't have the "perfect" child you had been counting on and dreaming of. I read somewhere, that parents of special needs children have to go through the same steps people do who have lost someone. Well, I guess I could say that it is so true, being in both situations with Hanna. Not only did we grieve for our "perfect" child, but we also had to do it when she died. I can honestly say, I was probably in the grieving state her whole life! There were so many times we almost lost her over her 19 years, and so many disappointments from her health questions, I was always having to rethink her capabilities and abilities to survive independently some day. Life was a constant struggle for her. This is all a concept I have never considered before, but I believe it is the Lord's way of preparing us for the possiblity of her death at an early age. Lots of things to think about.

Thursday, July 13, 2006

Another Day

I decided to try a color today for my blog. I am still learning how to do this and then I would like to try some of the fun things, like adding pictures and more. It's going to take me some time to learn it all.

I have only told my husband, Peter, about my blog, so far, and maybe that's because I just want it to be private for now. I am not sure of all I want to share in my blog. I was told years ago by the spirit that I need to write about things I know, so I guess that's a good place to start.

My experiences in life, and what I've learned over the years, like dealing with a child who has special needs... Hanna, our daughter who was born 10 weeks prematurely and had many health problems, including Autism. She taught us many things during her life of almost 19 years. I am so grateful she was a part of our lives, and I miss her dearly. I am thankful for my testimony of where she is. I know she's happier now without all the handicaps she had in life. She's gone on to bigger and better things.

Well, I think this will have to do for now, I've got to get ready for work.

Monday, July 10, 2006

First Time Blogger

Well, I guess it's time to start. I think this may be a fun way to make comments about life and what's going on. I want to make it a journal that someone may read that will help them in some way. Besides, yesterday in church we had a lesson on Journals and I am more determined than ever to write down feelings and thoughts and events as I feel I should be.

I have a journal that I have been rocording events in over the last 30 or more years, having to do with my family. I plan to use this forum to do the same, maybe I'll be able to record events and feelings immediately this way.

The most recent event is the birth of our newest grandchild, Marlena HVN Firth. She was born on June 29th at 11:11pm at Pioneer Valley Hospital in West Valley City, UT to our son, B.J. and his wife, Melinda. She weighed 7 lbs 14 oz and was 20 inches long. We are soo excited to welcome her into our family. This is our 3rd grandchild and she is the new little sister to our 1st grandchild, Madison Rae Firth, who is 6 yrs old. Our only other grandchild at this time, is Jaiden Daniel Firth, born in December to our other son, Justin and his wife, Shadea. Later this summer, we are expecting our 4th grandchild, a boy, to our daughter, Stephanie, and her husband, Justin Behling. They haven't picked a name yet.

Well, I think I'll finish this now, so I can post it for the my first blog ever!!!