Happy Birthday Janna!

Janna with her twins daughters

Lorelai and Genevieve

Today is my niece Janna's birthday.  Janna is my sister Rhonda's only daughter.  I've always had a special spot in my heart for this little niece of mine.  When I was 14 years old, I spent the summer with Rhonda and her family in Hudson's Hope, BC.  Janna was just a baby then and I remember thinking how much I loved her.  I would carry her around the whole time I was there.  She was cute, sweet, and Rhonda's first girl.  I wish I could find the picture that was taken of me holding Janna.  Honestly, my smile covered my entire face.  There was just something about her that I loved and still do.

My favorite memory of Janna is when I dropped her off at the MTC on her way to serve a mission for the LDS church.  There she was...this beautiful, blonde, 21 year old young woman amidst hundreds of 19 year old male missionaries.  She looked around at all of them and said (with the most hilarious look on her face) "Look at all of these 19 year old puke heads!"  That truly summed up the experience.

Janna is my only niece that followed my (and her mother's) footsteps and became a teacher.  She's smart.  She's funny.  She's sarcastic.  She's savvy.  I love that she keeps current with literature and the world yet remains so stalwart and true to her faith.  

She took her time to find the exact right spouse...whom I have NEVER met.  Apparently, he is NOT a "puke head".  

The Thorum's

(I need a bigger picture.  Janna, if you read this, send me a bigger one so people can see your handsome husband and lovely daughters!)

She has three beautiful daughters.  I love that.  Since she was raised with four brothers, it was only fair that she got girls.  Two of them are twins!  She has an Etsy shop where she sells homemade baby/children toys.  Her work is beautiful.  Check it out here.  She also has a blog for you to enjoy here.

Janna, your Auntie loves you.  I can't remember the last time I saw you in person, yet, I feel like I still know you.  Happy Birthday my dear.

Here's evidence of Janna's great example!

(This is one of my favorite pictures ever.)

An Update

Well, a lot has happened since March 2.  As most of you who read this blog on a regular basis know, I had surgery on that day to reimplant my right ureter into my right kidney which had been damaged from an earlier surgery last October 15 in which a tumor was removed from the cavity of my abdomen  Whew!  That was a lot of information squished into a tiny space.

My recovery was going along swimmingly when, I started having horrible, raging high fevers.  Why?  My incision had been collecting pus like there was no tomorrow (I thought about including pictures here but then thought better of it...you're welcome!).  So, it all came down to being tossed back and forth from the wound care clinic and my surgeon to see whether to keep the wound (which they ended up cutting open) gaping open or sew it back up.  In the end...Dr. Soisson sewed it back up which took place yesterday.  We'll see how it all works out.  Only time will tell.  (pssttt...if you'd like to see a picture of the wound OR the stitched up wound just ask (sicko!))

My New Read

When you live in a 4000+ square foot home, you (I) tend to gather a lot of stuff.  I really have felt for a long time that I have too much junk and it suffocates me.  I read the review for this book in one of my many magazines I've stockpiled (ha).

It looks like it's for me.  I'll read it as I rest from my wounds.  I'll mark it up with pens, pencils, and post it flags (you're welcome Oprah).

So, I will make all the lists I need to in order to "Clear the Clutter, and Find My Life."  Once done and once I'm recovered, I WIL do this.  I feel too cluttered.  I need a fresh life and changes in that life.  

I am setting a goal for January 1, 2010 to have thrown out, donated, shared, or sold at least 50 things from every three rooms in my house.  These "things"  aren't like 1 magazine, or 1 old bottle of nail polish...it's 1 pile of old magazines, or 1 bundle of old nail polish.

So, who wants to join me???  We could check up on each other.  This could be fun.  Yes?

I refuse...

to make anymore blog posts until I get some comments.

Picture me sitting on the floor with my legs and arms crossed looking at you like it's you're turn to leave a comment.  

Force it.

Lie about it.

Make it up.

Just throw me a bone!

I need a comment.

Thanks in advance!

How I Am Going to Become a Millionaire:

Dear Surgical Adhesive Tape Manufacturers:

Thank you for your efforts in creating adhesive tape that holds bandages in place over a wound.  I understand the need for it.  I've seen your p

ackaging with words like "gentle", "breathable", "hypoallergenic",  and "water resistant".  I get that you have to put that on your packaging in order to sell it to the medical community and regular consumers alike.  Otherwise, your only customers would be hockey players who need it

 to wrap around their sticks to create an awesome grip.  Thanks to its rough texture and the fact that it leaves no residue when removed it is ideal for these athletes...Go Oilers!

But, as one who has spent the last two weeks using and removing your surgical tape, let me just say this....YOU LIE!  It is NOT gentle.  I have tried every kind of tape that I was able to steal (and not feel too guilty) from the many, many doctor's offices I have been to lately.  None of them are in the least bit worthy of a promotion that says "gentle".  

Seriously, you should see my abdominal skin.  It is not pretty.  Now I must change my dressing twice a day because of some "issues".  I no longer even blink at the gaping hole in my abdomen that is being cared for by the wound clinic.  Oh no.  That is the least of my medical apprehension.  But the anticipation of having to remove your "breathable" tape almost does me in.  I've tried removing it quickly...like a bandaid...only the tape is 10x the length of a bandaid.  Doesn't work.  I've tried removing it slowly...Ya right.  Nothing makes it easier.  I just have to do it!

So, I am declaring to you that I am planning on inventing an "ouchless" surgical tape.  One that is "gentle", "breathable", "hypo allergenic", and "water resistant".  However, MY tape will also be designed to actually feel better the more you take it off and on.  It will never lose it's adhesiveness nor its sparkly white sheen.  I may even include a lovely scent to the tape that will make people long for wounds so they can buy my tape.

Be afraid my friends...be very afraid.  If I can figure out how

 to bring my invention to fruition, I promise to give a free roll to every doctor that I have ever stolen tape from in the past.  I know it is a big undertaking.  I will work on it in my free time and hopefully have it completed, packaged, and on the shelves before I die.  Big dreams.  Big hopes.  No more ripped skin.

Sincerely,

Tamiwiththethinthinabdominalskin

I FINALLY finished this book.  It took me 

forever, not because it was bad, but because I only read it 

before bed.  Then, when I really got

 into it, I had to keep going back to make sure I hadn't missed a single clue.  About two thirds of the way through, I stopped with the "only before bed" and couldn't put it down.  I read it straight through.

This was the book that my surgeon, Dr. Soissen, suggested to me a few months ago.  I hesitate to make a blanket recommendation to the world.  It has overtaken my thoughts since finishing it.  It doesn't have much to do with wolves (which was my first hang up about reading it).  

So, let me tell you a little about it and you can decide for yourself:

 

• It's a wonderful murder mystery.
• It takes place in 1867 in the frozen tundra near the Hudson Bay in Northern Canada.  Brrrr....I've never "felt" the cold while reading a book like I did with this book.

• I loved the different voices.  The entire book is delivered in third person except for one character, Mrs. Ross.  She is the only one who tells the story in first person.  I LOVED that about this book.  I want more Mrs. Ross books.

• The author, Steff Penney is actually a screen writer.  This is her first novel.  I think she is so cool.  She is very talented.  In this, her very first novel she weaved suspense, revelation, and humor (a bit)  into such a great thriller.  It was romantic without the old "in your face" romance.  She was one of the best storytellers I have read in quite a while.

Wow!  After reading my review, I guess I really did love it.  I think I'll read it again.  If any of you decide to read it, please let me know what you think.

Swears

#%&!

Dang, Fetch, oh, my heck,

What the holy scrud?

H-E-double hockey sticks

That's frickin', flippin', crud!

(Chorus of  "Dang, Fetch, Oh My Heck" from the Oscar  worthy "Sons of Provo"  (hee, hee))

It seems like everytime I've turned around this week, I've heard something about swearing.  First, my friend Sue wrote a blog/letter to her six daughters reminding them to keep their swears down.  

On Monday, I was chatting with my niece Jodi.  I was talking about how sore I was after my surgery and let the sh**  word fly.  She asked "Do you kiss your grandchildren with that same mouth?" 

 Just last night, my family was all sitting around watching "The Amazing Race".  I told them all my new goal "I've decided to never let my grandchildren hear me swear."  Erika (she always sets me straight) looked at me and said "Well, why don't you start practicing NOW?"  Good point.  Thanks for the slug in the gut!

I was raised in a home where we weren't allowed to swear AT.ALL.  I can honestly say that I never heard either parent swear until I was in my early 20's.   Here's how that went:

Mom:  Ray will you run down to the basement and get me a loaf of bread?

Dad:  I'll walk but I'll be damned if I'm going to run.

I think my mother and I could not stop laughing for an hour and even now I get a little chuckle out of it.

 Swearing.  We just didn't do it.  That's why I loved to go to church and sing the hymns because I was sure to find a perfectly legal "Hell" or "Ass" that I could sing extra loud.  The same was true in the scriptures.  So, It wasn't that big of a deal to have to read them.  And, if the scriptures say those words, it must be okay... right?

When my dad was a small boy, he was helping my grandpa fix a fence out in their field.  My pop missed his target and ended up hitting his leg with the sledge hammer...it was a serious injury.  My dad yelled "Oh Lordy, Lordy."  My grandfather told him "Son, you will not take the Lord's name in vain in my sight.  Go home and wait for me there."  I'm sure the waiting part was worse than the strapping he got when his dad finally made it home. 

I will say, I'm not THAT extreme.  In fact, I think that a well placed hell, damn, or shi**  can add emphasis to a conversation.  And often, there is no other way to say it.  A good swear will do it's job.  But you will NEVER hear me take the Lord's name in vain.  That is not me.  And if you know me, you know that I don't judge anyone who uses strong language I love you just the same (given that I loved you in the first place!  HA!).  

I will end with this.  It is something a friend told me a long time ago about swearing.  She said that when we swear, we just haven't taken the time to choose a better word.  I'll try to choose better words.  I really will.  But, damn it's hard! 

My handsome dad.