Easter Beauty

Have you ever before seen such beauty at Easter Time!!! I am telling you what. My mother was and still is the most talented seamstress I know. There was never a holiday where we did not go to church in matching, darling, freshly made dresses. I loved that and I have always tried my hardest to have my family in crisp new clothes for Easter Sunday. I have always loved this time of year. I love the colors, and the feeling of spring and the refreshing smells in the air. So thanks mom for always making sure that your girls look fabulous every Easter. You are the best.

I know that all of you want those glasses for sure. I remember thinking I was the coolest thing alive. Catwomen glasses we called them. They were so groovy!!! Love em!!!

We I have not blogged for a while, so here is the update. Nana is doing great. She has been going to all of Jordan's games with us. She walks herself to the car but we make her ride in the wheelchair to the gym and sit in it because it supports her back much better then the bleachers. She thinks that Jordan is amazing, which I tend to agree with her and she really enjoys watching him play. So we are so happy that she is doing well enough to join us each week for the big games. Speaking of games we lost to Brophy in the begining of the season but are undefeated ever since. It has been a really good season so far. We are looking forward to the games this week against Dobson on Tuesday and Mesa on Thursday. Should prove to be exciting.

Our little family is doing great. Curtis got a job and is working all kinds of overtime hours so yeah for answered prayers for their family. Only a few more weeks and Jacque is done with her 2nd year of college. She is loving her major, but hating anatomy although she says that she is learning a ton, it is just really really crazy study hours. She is still working doing dishes at the HUB (I think is what it is called). She has put in her application for doing the yardwork at the cemetary for the summer!!! Check that out, can you just see it, Jacque on the lawn mower going around all of the headstones. Seems crazy but her friend did it last year and said it really was great, so why not I guess!!! Christopher and Rachel and Anna are doing great. Chris is back on the job sites which he totally prefers and Rachel is training for Medical Transcripting and doing really well at it. Anna Banana is really trying to walk, so that is crazy. She is the sweetest baby, so tender and always knows when to give good hugs. Cody and Stephanie are having a wonderful pregnancy. Not too much nausea anymore and she is looking so cute with that little tummy. We can't wait for another beautiful Sunderhaus Baby Girl. Jordan is really enjoying the year (his last, so sad). He is doing great at his games and seems to be enjoying life to the fullest and that is exactly as it should be. Herb is busier then ever and I enjoy the minutes here and there we get to see each other. They are usually at night at his parents for the final change and breathing treatment of the evening. I will take whatever time I can get with him. I am loving life and I am so excited to try to apply to my life the teachings of the Prophet and his Apostles and General Authorities this past weekend. Thank Heaven for that boost every 6 months. Such a wonderful conference, can't wait to get the next Ensign and refresh my memory. Have a wonderful week, I know I will. You are all so wonderful and don't you forget it!

The Suns Game

Well we have had a really great week. I am getting this schedule down pat and mom is really responding to the breathing treatments. I go every 4 hours and give her them and it seems to be a little bit easier to be on that schedule so that is really good. Today I gave them both haircuts, and we had pizza and milkshakes for lunch, and tonight mom wanted to come over to our house and have dinner. So we got her dressed and she took off, like she had been freed from bed prison!!! It was pretty funny to see how fast she really can walk!!! I have spoiled her rotten and tonight I made her dress herself and in the begining she just kept putting her legs out for me to do it and I kept wandering around the house doing other things on purpose and before you knew it she was dressed and up and ready to go. I really wasn't going to have dinner ready for another hour, but we rushed it and ate about 1/2 hour early. She can do anything if she sets her mind to it. I am happy to spoil her, we are having a great time together so why not. Who doesn't love being spoiled here and there. So Cody brought over this Suns Jersey and put it on Nana, and she was in heaven. Doesn't she look good? I sure think so. She didn't last very long before she got really pooped out and so we took her home about 30 minutes after the game started. But that's okay she got out and got to be in a different place and she got out of her nightgown, and she was happy and that is really all that matters. Dad on the other hand has been really grumpy at me this week, that is not any fun at all, but oh well, I am not going to let him get away with it. I think he is having clostraphobia (or however you spell it) or something. I try to get him to go places but he insists on staying home. So I guess Iwill be the brunt of it and take it like a woman!!! The nurse came today and she said that mom's lungs are really doing well, but that she is still loosing weight and that is what will probably eventually take her. But she did say that she was impressed at her care and that made me feel really good. You need to hear that kindof stuff every so often. I am amazed how when your life changes so drastically how really easy it has been to give up certain things that I thought were monumental at the time and really just do what is important. It makes you take a step back and really evaluate what that is. And right now, and forever it is family, and church, which really do go hand in hand. So we move onward and upward in the endevor to do what is right. Thanks for the prayers, I really do appreciate them and all of your support. You are wonderful!!!

good times for sure

We have for sure had about 10 days of excitement and suprise and good times for sure. We had a tournament for Jordan on Friday and Saturday in the begining of March. We played awesome on Friday and then Saturday morning we slept through our games and only made it into the silver division. But the remainder of the day we played well and we took 1st in the silver. It hopefully woke us up for the rest of the season. We are very proud of Jordan who received a medal for all tournament team. So that was really great. Congrats Jordan. Then we started a big week in volleyball begining with Tuesday nights game at Brophy. We went all five games and in the end we lost, but that would not have been so bad if the ref wasn't so ridiculous. I hate it when the ref's don't call the games right. Oh well, we played good and hard and that's what counts right!!! It still is so much more fun to win, but oh well, the next night we played Jordan's club team (Highland High School) and again we went all five games, but this time we were the winners. It was wonderful. Jordan played so great and it was so exciting to come out on top. Then after the game Jordan went to his Eagle Scout Board of Review and he passed. We have an Eagle Scout!!! We are so proud of him. Tuesday night after the game I called Jacque to make sure she got home from Yellowstone safely and then I talked her into coming home for the rest of her spring break. They did it. They packed in a laundry basket and drove all night long. They were here in time for the big game against Highland and suprised all of our family. It was so much fun. I miss them so much every day so it was so great to have them. We didn't do anything monumental, just enjoyed each day we had with each other. I love that girl, and that sweet husband of hers for bringing her home to me.

As for Nana, she had a great week, in fact we have no clue what is going on. She is up and about. She came to our house twice this week for dinner. She is laughing and happy and really alert. I think she enjoyed having Jacque home as well. They shared stories of teaching and how Papa asked her to marry him and some really fun stories about her life. We are now giving her breathing treatments every 4 hours just during the day. At night she is still on oxygen, no treatments. So days are busy for sure but we are having a great time making puzzles and dancing, and laughing and really enjoying the time. So that is great. No bed soars anymore (good job) and she seems to be really in great spirits. So we are doing great there. On Thursday is was our 27th anniversary and Herb's sister Cina's birthday. We had a really busy day so on Friday we had a big family BBQ and just enjoyed the evening playing games and laughing a ton. Then on Saturday we went and helped put in the yard for our friends house. It was a blast! So many people and it was amazing how fast the yard came together. Curt and Jacque left on Sunday morning and made it home in 12 hours. We miss them already, and are so happy they got to come and visit. Life is good at our house. We have wonderful kids who we really enjoyed seeing a ton this week. I love my family for sure and am grateful for each new day. Life is good, enjoy every second of it. Oh yeah and by the way, happy st. patricks day!!!!

It was a really good day

Nana was really happy yesterday. It has been a few days since she has responded to much with a smile and so I was begining to worry. But she smiled a ton and even let me take her on a walk in the wheelchair in the afternoon. A long walk, about 15 minutes. We did it without crashing and even did a little 4 wheel driving at the end. We laughed a ton and saw so many little birds it was great. I think that she enjoyed it for sure. I have learned though, when she is done, she is done and you will not get any more out of her, and that is okay. So we turned around and went back home. Then last night we had a great talk about her high school and college years. And having her babies and she really remembers so much. I am amazed I can't even remember a few minutes ago and her memory is so sharp. It was a really good day.

Jordan also had a game last night against McClintock. It was great we won in three and played so much better then the night before. So that was wonderful as well. Next weeks line-up is tough so I hope that the Chandler tournament they are in this weekend will help sharpen the team skills and prepare them for next week. I look forward to this weekend I love watching that boy play ball. I think I have probably mentioned that a few times. Here's to a great weekend of fun volleyball and then a peaceful Sunday. Could life get any better then that!!!

We are UNDEFEATED!!!

Last night was the first volleyball game of the 2009 season. We played Desert Vista and although it wasn't our best playing, or the best reffing I have seen we managed somehow to win!!! Yeah! It was so good to be back in the stands watching Jordan play. He is amazing. I am always blown away at his ability to be able to read the court and know exactly what to do. What a great kid. It took all 5 games to win, which really made it exciting, but scarey all at the same time and too close for my comfort, but all that counts is that we came out on top. So tonight we play McClintock at Red Mountain. I am so excited I love volleyball and watching him play. So yeah Jordan on your victory. I tried taking pictures but I stink at it. They were all too blurry.

As for our adventure with Nana, she is still sleeping a ton, but I guess that is to be expected so I will stop worrying about it and just take the best care of her that I can. Today I will go early in the morning then the aids will come and take over for a little while. That really does help a lot. Dad continues to hope for her to get better, and then he says he knows she won't so that is really hard. I feel sad for dad especially. He takes such good care of her. When she was awake yesterday she was very alert so that was fun. We got to hear a few more stories of her childhood and when she first had her kids. So we will press onward and do our best, and in the end it is always the Lords plan. It's really good to know that I think, it helps a ton to know that He is in charge and we are just to do our best. I love that. Have a great day all of you wonderful people in my life. Your'e the best.

Here's to a new week

Sorry for blogging twice in one day, but the weekend was busy so I am just updating the journaling effort. So today I went over about 8:30ish and cleaned mom up and gave her her medicine for the morning. She was in pretty good spirits when I got there and the first thing she said was "Man those kids are funny!!!" So last nights visit was a success.

(Read about in the blog below)

That made me feel good, I was really kind of afraid that we had worn her completely out, but she really did enjoy herself. I spent the morning with dad finishing up the puzzle that we started on Sunday and we had a really good visit. I use to hate making puzzles but it really is soothing and that is wonderful in all of this not so soothing experience. He really talks a lot while we are doing that. Old stories, how he use to work on airplanes in the war and memories of life. I love it. Stephanie came by cuz we both have not been feeling up to par so we had a doctors appointment to go to ourselves. (Must be a Monday). I just wanted to get these achies fixed and fast. So we got our ammoxicillon and everything else we needed and back to Nana's we went. We stayed for a little bit and visited and then we were off again. I guess while we were at the doctors, the nurse and the blood guy came again. I am hoping for good results of the blood test. Still haven't heard. Maybe Tuesday will bring that news. Herb and I went back this evening and Wes was there for a visit as well. Nana seemed to have a pretty good day today, but she was mad at me tonight because I make her turn from side to side and she really does not like that. We have gotten her bed soar on her bottom pretty healed up and we don't want it to come back at all so we have to turn her but she sometimes really does not like that so tonight was one of those times. That's okay, I will be that bad guy and she can perform for everyone else. You gotta have a bad guy!!! I think that she is really frustrated because Mom has been a very active women her whole life. I cannot imagine how frustrating it must be for her. She wants to do so much but her poor little body just won't let her. So we just keep having to try coming up with new ways to help her pass the time in that darn bed she hates so much. Maybe I will try to see if she will go on a walk in the wheelchair for me. The day's are so pretty, so wish me luck on that one. A Monday that was not spent at the hospital is a very good Monday, so we'll take that.

Weekend Warriors

We conquered the weekend. Yeah. It was a crazy one for sure and for the first time I was on my own. No nurses, doctors, aides, nothing, and we did it. It felt pretty good actually.

On Saturday Mom mostly slept. I was a bit worried cuz that was the 3rd day in a row, eventually she woke up early in the evening and so we go to chat a little, but not much. She ate only a little that day, but a little is better then nothing. I have to find the good in all the crazy, so I was happy she ate anything. It was a pretty crazy day for me so I did not stay as long as I usually do, but Dad and I visited a lot in the morning and then Herb went with me at night and we had a great visit. Uncle Wes came and all it took was a new voice I guess cuz somehow he got mom to get out of bed and take a walk outside!!! Go figure. Where has he been this whole time? She walked out to the gate and back. It definately pooped her out but was really good for her to do. Sunday we have all of our kids over for dinner. Nana and Papa are usually there as well but since she has been sick they have not been able to come. So after dinner was over we thought that we would take the party to them. I think she really enjoyed it. She hasn't seen the baby since she first went into the hospital at the begining of April so she was so excited to see her. Anna hated Nana's bed, it scared her cuz it crunches with the air matress on it so she made all kinds of faces, which in turn made Nana laugh. Good job Anna. We took 4 generation pictures, ones of the whole family, and then snapshots of everything else. Christopher convinced Nana to go on a walk and she said okay!!! Wow, we could not get her up fast enough. So off we went, out into the street and through the neighborhood. She loved it. I can't get her to do that on my own. She has learned to tell me no, so peer pressure from the grandkids evidently is the secret. We went around the block and then back. She sat Anna on her lap, which made us a little nervous at the begining, but that Nana held onto that baby for sure. It really was delightful. The boys had a blast playing in the wheelchair to nobodies suprise. It drove Papa crazy to have them playing in it. I know he thinks they are going to break it and he hates that the wheels are dirty. Little did he know we took Nana all around the streets of the neighborhood and they were already dirty. So he will just have to calm down and let those boys be boys!!! He's so funny that way. We teased and laughed and built a new puzzle and visited for about 1 1/2 hours and then she had had enough. You could tell, so we got her back into bed, cleaned up and her last meds given and out she went. Like a light. I think it was a really great weekend. We conquered it on our own. Timed all of the activities for all of us pretty good and accomplished a whole bunch of great memories. You know how I love memories. Here's to a great week. Thanks again for your prayers I am feeling them.