Clearing out the Junk!

This past Saturday our children came over to help us go through the collection of 27 years of marriage! That is a monumental task! They were good sports however, and worked like troopers the whole day. Thank goodness!

Here is beauty and the beast. I don't think I need to tell you which one I think is the beast but it isn't Snortney.

I can't believe we have let stuff pile up like this. Nothing like a move to help you de-junk. Really it is the best way to get rid of stuff. Our unfinished basement had become the catch-all for stuff. Anything we didn't want to deal with or knew what to do with got put in the basement.
We also had to go through the garage outside. We worked inside until the weather warmed up. We still have part of the basement to go through but Snort and I can tackle that after I quit work. I cannot begin to tell you how much I appreciate my daughter. She has been such a support to me during this move thing - Jake thing. She is my very best friend. It has been such a blessing to me to have her friendship. WAY TO GO SNORTNEY! HIP HIP HOORAY!

Back to the garage, we pretty much have it cleared out. If any of you saw it, you know what a chore that was. We took two pickup loads to the dump, my car full of stuff for D.I., Snort's trunk full of things she wanted and about three loads to the storage unit. Having the kids help us was huge! I think if Bud and I had to do it we would still be here this spring.

I can't believe my last day at work is the Wednesday before Thanksgiving. I have been working at that job for the last 16 1/2 years. I love it. It has been a wonderful opportunity and I will miss those I work with immensely. My co-workers are like family and we have a great rapport. Since giving my notice, however, I have found myself quite relieved. It was an unexpected feeling. I was dreading quitting - not knowing what to do with myself, missing my friends, etc. I will still miss them but it feels good to know I will have some time to get ready for the move and to spend with my kids and other family members. You never know how things are going to turn out but I am feeling very optimistic about my future!

Dr. Appointment

Today was Jake's appointment with the neurologist. Overall it was a good appointment. His MRI looked great. We now have irrefutable evidence that Jake has brain matter, no never mind what anyone else thought! His EEG had some very minor abnormalities in it. The EEG measures the electrical current in the brain and how it interacts with all the circuits (to best of my knowledge.) His EEG had about two minutes worth of some minor abnormalities. (Jake said that just proves our theory of him being abnormal!) The doctor said that it could just be a fluke or somewhat of a misread, but then it could be a sign of some problems. She said with that kind of results Jake would have about a 50/50 % chance of having another seizure. She said he had three options. 1 - Be put on seizure medicine for a couple of years; 2 - Keep going on like his is and take the risk of the possibility of having a seizure again; or 3 - Get another EEG and see if the abnormalities show up again. Of course Jake chose 3. He has to go in next Monday for another EEG. This time the doctor really wants him to be sleep deprived. Last time he was only allowed 4 hours of sleep. This time he needs even less sleep. If the abnormalities show up again then he will probably need to take some type of medicine. If they don't show up then we consider it a fluke. I hope and pray that it is a normal reading. We won't know the results of the 2nd test until December 16th on his next doctor's appointment.

Utah law states that a person who has a seizure is not allowed to drive for three months from the time of the seizure. That was a big bummer for Jake. He jokes about me taking him on his dates, but only if we could get some kind of glass closure like they have in limo's. Ha ha! His ward, friends and co-workers have been great to take him places. His bishop said that the ward would pull together to make sure he was able to continue working, going to school and doing his cows. (Bud doesn't have anymore cows, just Jake. Bud, however, has been taking care of them since this happened. Jake wanted to keep some cows - he said it is a stress reliever. I think Bud ruined the boy!!!) My last day at work is the Wednesday before Thanksgiving. I guess I will have a new job as chauffeur!

Keep my boy in your prayers - it helps!

Thanks and much love,
Mel

Jake

Jake had his EEG on Friday and everything looked good. They couldn't find anything wrong. YEAH!!!! We still have to go to the neurologist on November 17th to see what the MRI results were. They didn't tell us those. I think a radiologist has to read that and then sends the report to the neurologist. The wonderful waiting game.

Jake is back living at his apartment. His roommate Joe, the one who heard him crash and called 911, has been around alot to babysit Jake. Tonight his friend Joe, not the roommate, is babysitting. Jake is so cute about being "babysat". His friends have been great to help him resume his life. He works at Los Hermanos in Lindon and Thursday a bunch of his co-workers picked him up and took him out to work to see everyone and to have dinner. Of course they had to bring him back to Provo. It is comforting to know that we don't really have to worry about who is watching him. He still can't drive until his November 17th appointment but he seems to find rides whenever he needs them. Tonight Bud and I took him grocery shopping. He was so excited and grateful to have food! The little things in life.

Health wise he seems to be in tip-top shape. Hasn't had anymore problems. Let's hope this is a one time experience!

8 Things

I have been tagged - thanks Tiff!

8 TV Shows I Watch

House - Reruns
The Office - That's What She Said
Crusoe - Just started - not sure yet
The Late, Late Show with Craig Ferguson - every now and then
My Name is Earl - kinda falling out of love with it
Football - not by choice
Discovery Channel - whatever suits my fancy
Food Network - same as the above.

8 Things I Did Yesterday

I have slept since then but I will try -

Went to work - Jake was at Court's
Had lunch with Betty - a former co-worker and great friend
Played Bubble Breaker - yeah I have a small problem . . .
Watched the Grandkids so Court could run an errand while Brett was at school
Watch election results with very mixed emotions
Checked my blog
Vegetated
Slept - I told you I would have a hard time remembering

8 Favorite Restaurants

Si Senors in NM
Joe Bandito's
Red Robin
P.F. Changs - Mongolian Beef - that's what I'm talkin' about!
Brick Oven
Olive Garden
La Dolce Vita
Guru's
and anywhere that serves food!

8 Things on My Wish List

Jake to not have another seizure in his entire life! I could stop here and be complete.
Not to be a chubby grandma.
Have my kids move to Scotland with us.
Jake to find a wonderful girl so I won't worry about him when I am in Scotland!
A stable economy, honest politicians and a bright future for our younger generation.
Not to worry about whatever.
Never have my children to have to worry about whatever.
While we are wishing here, I wish I had buckets and buckets of money to give to all of you!

Tag - You're It: Megan S. and Melanie B.

Update on Jake

I don't have much new news to report. Jake seems like he is the same guy he was before the seizure. In fact he is working this to his advantage. I asked him to scape the snow, yes snow, off my car this morning and he said that he couldn't - that it might cause a seizure! Need less to say he scraped the snow and is just fine. This seizure has come in handy for him - if you could ever say that. I am glad to know he still has his humor in tact.

Once you have a seizure you are reported to the Driver's License Division and not allowed to drive until you get clearance from a neurologist. Jake has to have two tests before he goes to the neurologist - a MRI and a EEG. He had the MRI yesterday and the EEG is schedule for Friday morning. He can't get into the neurologist until November 17th!!! A person could die waiting for appointments, I swear. The neurologist's office said that they would put his name on a list for any cancellations they might have so he could get a quicker appointment. I hope that happens but I doubt it. We won't know any test results until the neurology appointment.

If you can read between the lines, that means we have to drive him everywhere he needs to go and he always has to be around someone, in case he has another seizure. He has been staying with us but is longing for his bachelor pad. I don't blame him. Bud and I are not that exciting, as you well know! Monday night I sat in the parking lot of the UVU testing center for an hour and a half while he took his chemistry test. It was dark and I played Bubble Breaker on my phone. I set a personal best that night! Today I took him to school and told him to find someone to eat lunch with and hang out with. I think he is eating with a girl but I don't know. He was coy about it. Go Jake Go! Yesterday Court got to babysit. I think he was ready to go home after hanging out all day with an infant and a three year old. He loves the little kids but they are only so much fun.

Thanks for all the comments of support and prayers. It is a great comfort to know you are loved! I will keep you updated if there are any new developments.

By the way, I love all your blogs. It has been so much fun for me to get to see what you and your families are doing. Hopefully Court is going to really get going on hers soon. She definitely needs to change the color of her blog from that Pepto Bismal pink!

Love to you all!

Jake The Snake

Well if any of you have read Court's blog you know that Jake had a bit of trouble this weekend. He had a Grand Mal Seizure on Saturday. Never has had one before. It was a scary thing for all of us but especially for him. We probably won't know if it is a one time thing or if he has something wrong inside his noggin' for a few days, but I will keep you posted. In the meantime, he is staying with us (a silver lining for me!). He is doing well and is nervous about what may be ahead but is in great spirits. That is one of the things I love about Jake. He is a happy, humorous guy!
Looking at this picture I would say he is the picture of health. What a beefcake if I do say so myself. This was taken at Rynie so Cute and Tiny's birthday party.

Hamming it up for the camera. Snakeman is one to have fun and goof around.

Best Friends!

Jake has developed a love for cattle ranching, just like his father.
These pictures were taken at the bull sale in California this past September.

A Few of My Favorite Things

Well I can't resist posting these pictures of my grandbabies sleeping. I had taken the day off work because I spend the night coughing my head off. My sweet daughter came over with the kidlets to hang out. We were all laying on my bed when the babes fell asleep. I couldn't resist -

I love the chocolate milk mustache! Also the wee one's chubby cheeks. Sooooo Cute!