I'm back!

I guess it has been awhile. Things seem to happen all the time and it is so hard to keep up. We have had lots of rain this fall and the Dam is pretty cool looking! The trees have been really colorful this fall. I did not manage to get any good pictures of that. In other news- Dustin got a Moped for his main source of Transportation! Yes he is officially the One Eyed Moped Man!

He also had his last surgery on his eye. The doctor did a lens implant and a vitrectomy. Not a lot of fun for Dustin. If you want a very graphic idea of what a Vitrectomy entails you can go to this website and see horrible photos. Don't do it if you have a weak stomach! http://www.mdsupport.org/surgery.html

The results were that the lens implant did pretty good. Work was needed to repair the support system for the new lens. The vitrectomy was needed to remove the damaged lens that had gone inside the eye and to clean out the blood in the vitreous. When the doctor got inside and got a good look at the Macular, he discovered that the layer behind the macular has been damaged. This cannot be repaired at this time. Dr. Bennedet also said that he believes in the next 3-6 years there will likely be something that can be done. His vision is what it is... http://medweb.bham.ac.uk/easdec/coping_with_poor_vision.html#u

So now it has been a few weeks and he is back at work at the Red Wing Shoe store and riding his Moped again. He goes back to the doctor on the 13th and see how things are doing. The End...

(we are all doing well and looking forward to the Holidays and travel. Texas for Thanksgiving and Idaho for Christmas!!!)

Crazyness!

Not even sure where to start! Life comes at you fast... SO, a couple of weeks ago a get phone call just as I am ready to go to bed. It goes something like this...
"Mom, can you meet me at the emergency room?"
"What's going on?"
"well, my eye got shot out by a bottle rocket"
"ARE YOU JOKING?!!"
"No mom, this is not a joke! Why do you always say that when I call you with something major?"
(i guess I need to learn to ask if you are OK before I ask if you are joking)
"OK I will meet you there."
So I head out to the hospital Emergency room and meet Dustin and his friends there. We were immediately taken back to a room and a doctor was there within minutes. you know it's bad when you don't have to wait for hours in the emergency waiting room on a busy Saturday night. So, bottom line- he got hit in the left eye at close range with a bottle rocket (firework). he was admitted to the hospital for surgery a few hours later. His cornea was repaired and sealed. Now it is two and a half weeks later and yesterdays report was "cautiously optimistic" and next week we go to schedule the next surgery to replace the lens. The blood clot is nearly gone and the ultrasounds show the retina is still intact. We are hopeful that his sight will return eventually. Currently he cannot see out of the left eye at all. He had to drop his class at MSU and cannot drive yet. The pain has been pretty intense for the most part, but it is getting better. In the middle of all of the Dustin pirate drama it is time for Kortney and Ben and Kennady to pack up and move to Idaho. I had made all the arrangements to go with them. After much worry and consideration, I decided to take a break from the doctor appointments and eye drops and go. The car was loaded with all the stuff and me and a baby in the back seat and we drove 2 days to Idaho. Kennady was a perfect baby and the trip went well. We arrived in Rexburg and spent the next week moving into the new apartment. While there, I did get to see and spend some time with Kendra and Nathan. We had alot of fun playing Rock Star Band. I got to see the wild side of Ben!! Made me laugh and Kennady wonder!!We really had some fun! Kendra and Nathan have a nice little apartment and lots of good toys!
After all the fun and games, it was time to head back to home again. The trip back was entertaining. Kortney had Alaska Airline points that needed to be used up so she flew me to Dallas by way of Idaho Falls to Boise, 30 minute layover, Boise to Seattle WA, overnight layover (I stayed in a nice Hilton- I love Priceline.com The LSU football team stayed in the motel while I was there. They played Washington State that night and won.) The next day I flew Seattle to Dallas. Cheryl picked me up and we went to my in-laws and all Kevins sisters except Trudie. We had a "slumber Party" and visited alot. It was alot of fun and entertaining to hear all about all our old lady aches and pains. Tina and I visited about our wonderful Grandchildren. They next morning the girls took me to the airport and I flew from Dallas to Branson! Home again. It was really nice to be home again and I was very happy to see my sweet husband and pirate son! I think they missed me too! I really had a hard time leaving my baby in Idaho and I am going to so much miss that baby girl. Here are some pictures of my girl- the last photos that I will be taking for awhile.

I have a picture of this baby's mother that looks almost exactly the same.

this one is a bit blurry, but this is her silly look that makes me laugh. She has several funny faces that she makes!
I am going to miss my monkey!

Best Birthday Ever!!!!

Guess what- I had a birthday- and it was awsome!My morning started off very Early with a suprise trip in a flying machine! (Thank you Lisa and Hugh!!)How awsome and fun was that!!!!Then over to Donna's for afternoon pooling and birthday party.
Everyone sang to me and we had cake!The Cake nearly got dropped, but My mother saved it. I like the handprint in the cake!Pictures after dinner. My mother and her four children. Mother then asked for a picture of her four children. Get serious!??And finally all of us together. We are missing a few family members, but most are here!Then on the following Monday, we all headed to the lake for a day of more fun. I had a jet ski to play on!! Kennady really loves the water...

The end of a perfect weekend!

Summer fun!

I was going to try to put these in some kind of order, but that takes alot of work. So here are pictures and comments of the beginning of summer for us. We attended the College of the Ozarks Honor America program. There were fireworks! Kevin and I enjoy being Grandparents so much! It is way better than being parents. I guess that is why they put the GRAND in front of parents... Kennady is sure a Grandma's girl!

Dustin is attempting to grow facial hair. (and he refuses to smile for the camera)

Kennady likes to blow rasberries and spit...

Jovie and Kennady have fun together alot! (you gotta watch out for those older cousins!)
Jovie will make a wonderful big sister in January.

Kennady REALLY loves Nilla Wafers!

This is what happens when you take them away form her...

Delila is another cousin that came for a visit. I tried to get a picture with all three little girls, but Delila wouldn't .

More Kennady cause she is so cute! Grandma found the cutest dress for the 4th of July!

Two Little Monkees!!

Swimming at the Lake is Kennadys favorite activity (besides eating). We like to head out to the lake after a long day at work.

Kennady loves to splash!

And Splash.....

and Splash...

(I actually put that on twice and I cant figure out how to get pictures off once I get them on..)
and then the sun sets!

Makes for great lighting...

Just the cutest baby ever!

Building a Bridge...

Here is the latest project at our house... Dustin decided to build a bridge over the creek in our yard. He had his friend Aaron come over and help. Kind of reminds me of the Tom Sawyer painting the fence story- power tools were involved!

The bridge turned out wonderful and Kennady really likes it alot. She has decided to be the toll collector. You have to get past her to cross the bridge. Dont let her small size fool you, She is so adorable that anyone will stop and pick her up and forget they were crossing a bridge!

Hard to just walk on by!

This has nothing to do with the bridge, but Stupidcat just looked so content watching me take pictures that I couldnt resist taking a picture of him.

Another change of subject. This is now the view out my back window. It used to be just woods and very green and tranquil, but now a house is being built right in my back yard. I am not too happy about it, but not much that can be done about it and I hope I end up with good neighbors!