Muddled March

March has really been a muddled month for me. I have felt absolutely crummy most of the month, but am finally starting to feel like myself again now. My knee still hurts, but my spirit is better. Here is a picture of the x-ray of my new knee. The shiny part is the implant, from two different views. Don't count the shiny circle that is just a reflection of the light.



We have some very important birthdays in March, starting with Soren's 3rd on the 7th, then Esther's on the 8th, Jenn's on the 14th, then Crew's 9th on the 19th, Shauna's on the 22nd, Daniel's on the 26th, Emma's 5th on the 29th, and Levi's 17th and Grandma's 87th on the 31st.

Soren

Esther
Jenn
Crew

Shauna
Daniel


Emma
Levi


Grandma


Here are some updates from some of the kids who have sent pictures of their activities this month.
Devyne and her DECA trophy



















The Richins kids visiting Thomas the Train




Kirtlyn & Maya sporting their hats



The Evans clan going with Polly for her first baptisms for the dead...Dallin has been called to be the baptizer on Saturday mornings, so he got to baptize everyone.













The Brown family at the zoo.






Joel & Steph's family at Hogwarts at Disney World



Hannah and her show choir 1st place trophy



March 4th was a red-letter day, because it was the day Stetson got his mission call...to Argentina...as you all know. We are so proud of all our missionaries: Joshua, Dallin and Stetson. And all the upcoming ones, as well, who are working hard to prepare themselves to serve.


Also on the 4th, I got my staples out. Doesn't that look horrible? It looks really good now, but horrible then. This is BJ, the home health nurse. I also had visits from Becky, a very good physical therapist.























Dad had to speak at a Stake Relief Society Women's Conference on the 5th. He did a wonderful job, of course, from all I have heard about it. He talked about going "to the rescue" using Minerva Teichart's painting of Jesus holding the black lamb.


On the 10th, Dad and I went to Mesa for my 3-week checkup. I was hoping the doctor would tell me I could take off both elastic stockings instead of just one, but no dice. Dad was practically gleeful. He has been so paranoid about blood clots. Our neighbor, Terri Carter, had some surgery and that very thing happened to her. She had to be rushed to the hospital and put on major blood thinners. She's ok now, but Dad is sure it will happen to me.
While we were in Mesa, Jeremy and Erika invited Dad and some of Joel's kids and some of Esther's kids to go to Falcon Field to see an air show. Dad loved it!




I went off all the pain meds right after my 3 wk checkup, so I had quite a lot of pain to deal with, but the worst part was the drug withdrawal. I was certifiable for a few days. Dad was afraid I would bite off his head and hand it to him in a Walmart bag! And he has been so incredibly patient and helpful. He kept asking, over and over, if I was ok. The girls kept telling me I wasn't myself, too. I know that is true. I felt like a foreigner in my own body. Fortunately, the worst part was over before Jer & Er's kids came.
On the 15th, Jeremy and Erika brought their kids over to stay while they went to New York City. We had a good time and the kids were all very well behaved and easy to take care of...in fact, they helped Grandpa take care of me.


On the 16th of March, Parker, too went in for surgery. He had some abdominal repair work done and so was very uncomfortable for a while, but I think he was more of a trooper than I have been. What a man!

On the 31st, I had a 6-week checkup with my surgeon (which, by the way, meant that I could finally remove my annoying elastic stocking!!!) so we were able to be in Mesa for Grandma's 87th birthday and Levi's 17th birthday. The Safford girls sent goodies and gifts with us for Grandma and Esther made brownies for her open house. She had visits from Joel and Steph and Stetson and Jeremy and Erika and all their kids as well as from Esther and Soren. Grandma felt so loved and important and she was very happy with all the attention. We also got to eat dinner with Levi and his family and heard all about Crew's favorite movie, Tron. I told him to let me know when he gets the movie and we would plan a Tron party, so we have that to look forward to in April.




The video at the end is of Hayden doing his cookie trick. I kid you not, he actually put the cookie on his forehead and using only facial muscles worked it down to his mouth, where he gobbled it up. I'm sorry the video isn't better. I was laughing so hard I couldn't focus.