Flashback Friday to May 5, 2022–Miriam’s eye injury

 Sooooooo One time Miriam went to swim. I often stay and watch or do homework while she’s swimming. I had to work that night so I came in my scrubs and planned to go to
work right afterwards. Garren was going to pick her up from swim so I could go to work.

I was sitting on the bleachers doing homework, and all of a sudden I saw Miriam pull herself up out of the pool crying and I saw blood dripping down her face. It was everywhere! So much blood! So I ran her over to the first aid people. She was covering up her eye so I couldn’t see it really well. The first aid person soaked up some of the blood with some gauze and I could see it really well then. Her eye lid looked like when you tear a paper in half down the middle! I said, “I’m just going to take her to my hospital.” So we drove to Mt Vista which was about 1/4 mile from the pool. I couldn’t really look at it because it was making me queezy and I needed to be alert to answer questions. I asked if Dr. Parker, the pediatric plastic surgeon for our hospital, could be the one to fix her face. They called him in Phoenix and asked him to come. He is the best! 

A girl on her team jumped in the water and landed on her face. it looked like maybe her nose clip scraped up her nose then when through her eye lid. We were very lucky that it didn’t do any damage at all to her eye. 

So, Garren had joined us and I had to go to work. It was too late for me to call out. So Garren stayed with her while they stitched her up. I couldn’t even imagine the horror of it all because she had to get stitched up with her eyes open! And they couldn’t cover it up or anything., So she had to watch all of it!! Poor thing. I told my charge nurse I wanted to go down and check on her after I did my first rounds, and she let me. Then I brought Miriam and Garren up to the floor to show them where I work. After seeing Miriam my charge nurse told me I could go home. So that was nice. She stayed home from school the next day and I was able to be with her. 

I had to help her take a bath so she could keep her eye covered. So she bathed in her swim suit. Hee hee.

Dr. Parker did such a nice job with her eye. I am so happy with it. You can hardly tell at all. And the scrape on her nose didn’t leave a scar at all. 

Luckily, Miriam was not too traumatized by this event. She still swims and is great friends with the girl that hit her. And the eye looks great. You really have to look for it to see any scar. 

Sugar took good care of Miriam, too. Sugar is not the greatest dog we’ve ever had. . .  But she is a good friend. Whenever Miriam is sad Sugar is right there. When Miriam had her panic attack before the piano recital last week, Sugar would not leave her side. She’s a good dog. 

I think Miriam should get pink hair again. So fun! And so cute on her! But she colored all my towels pink. 

Flashback Friday—Elton John Concert

 Yes, I know it’s Sunday. 

Close to this time last year. . . I believe it was November 11th, we decided last minute—very last minute—to go to the Elton John concert! Josh came home from school that day and said his friend were going to “John Elton” concert. I said, “WHAT? Elton John!?” I asked him if he wanted to go. Then we looked up tickets thinking surely nothing would be available three hours before showtime. But we found seats. . . In the very back row! Ha! We had a student renting our guest room at the time—Kate— and she wanted to come too. She had never been to a concert before. 

We got ready and went a little early so we could go eat dinner first. But oddly enough, we couldn’t find anywhere to eat dinner! So we went into the venue, which was Chase Field, and got something inside. 

The show was amazing! It was Elton John’s last tour. And for good reason. he seemed to be struggling toward the end of the show. He did three costume changes and each time he walked back to the piano it looked a little more challenging for him to get there. But he was still an amazing performer and the show was inspiring. He had screens in the background that displayed images of things that reflected the songs he was singing. Some had people dancing in them and the people were representative of all genders, orientations, etc. Very inclusive. 

It was a great experience to share with my kids. Before we went I talked to my kids about how Elton John was a great symbol and leader for minority groups being a gay man and having come out as a gay man when it still was not very accepted. I talked to my kids about how we could be friends and “allies” of minority groups. I told them we don’t have to be loud and noisy about it like some people are. We can be clear without causing offense or pushing people away. How are we supposed to encourage others to listen to our points of view if we are yelling or making people uncomfortable? So I taught them ways to be allies to minority groups in a way that might encourage discussion and conversation. We each wore something with a rainbow on it to show we were allies. I wore Miriam’s rainbow earrings. 

It was fun to go a concert with my kids. I hope I can again soon. Guns and Roses is coming next month, but I’m not sure they’re ready for that ;) Maybe I’ll go with my brother, Neal. 

Flash back Friday (May 9-Aug28th)

 Yes, I realize it isn’t Friday. I was delinquent this summer on keeping up with my blog. I thought about it just about every week. But something always came up. So, here I am, one week into second block and just now resuming. So, here’s what happened this summer!

MAY

So, I started my new job at Springdale. And it was terrible. I like working with patients in long term care, but the people I worked with were. . .  I have nothing nice to say. Infection control was abysmal. Nearly the entire facility was always on precautions for scabies, then we had a TB scare, then Covid came through. . . Long story short, it didn’t work out. . . 

Miriam had a swim competition in Las Vegas. She and I went together. She got to miss a day of school. We stayed at the Orleans hotel. That was fun, except when the people below us had a huge loud party. The hotel let us switch rooms though, so that was good. It was just annoying that we had to do it at 3 am. I introduce Miriam to the show Supernatural this summer and we stayed up late together watching it every night. I forget how her team placed at the competition, but it was fun to be there and a trip I’ll remember forever. I took her to the strip and we watched the volcano at the mirage, ate macarons at the macaron shop in the Venetian, and we harvested our own pearls to make into jewelry at the Pearl Factory in the Venetian. She had her pearl put inside a pineapple necklace and I had mine put on a flower ring. We did way more shopping than we should have, but it was so fun. On the way there I stopped at a jewelry store on the side of the road and bought a pearl necklace with pearl made from a purple thorny oyster. I’ll have to post a pic of it later as I forgot to take one at the time. (I’m at work right now on a break and am limited to pictures I have on hand). 

Later in the month we had new light fixtures installed in the house. Garren and I spent an entire weekend shopping for them. It was fun. Well, I had fun. He probably wanted to claw his eyes out. Jk, I think he enjoyed it. We had been talking about putting lights outside by the grill and the side of the house with the trash cans since we moved in. So, I think he was glad to finally do that. 

We had lights beside our bed in Virginia and missed them every day! We’d comment often about how we wished we had our lights beside our bed. YOu can control their brightness with the switch below them. 

99.9% sure our neighbors hate us for installing this light. 

The outside lights are sensores so they turn on with movement. Perfect for taking out the trash at night.

And finally, Joshua interviewed for a job at Peter Piper Pizza at the end of May. He got the job! He has taken four years of Spanish at school, so the manager asked him to order a pizza a Spanish (or something like that). I think that’s what got him the job!

Oh, and Josh went on a school trip to Washington, D.C. Trip of a lifetime. He is still talking about it. He didn’t send me any pictures to post. But I tracked him one day and took this one. Ha!

The pets being cute in May.

And last, but not least, Sugar thinking she’s a lap dog. . . In May.

JUNE

In June, I finally got my citrine geode from Brazil that I have been wanting forever. Garren went and ruined it by putting two grapefruits at the base to make it look like a penis and testicles. Now that’s all I see when I look at it!

We also bought a new stove. It’s a convection stove. The water boils instantly! Well, within a minute. It’s amazing.

And Josh started working at PPP!

Had to throw this pic in. This is exactly how he looked to me in my mind as I watched him drive away to his new job. 

Miriam and I spent a day at my sister’s watching her kids so she could get stuff done. Hardest day ever! I don’t know how she does it. My kids were never that challenging. They’re sweet kids, but very challenging. They’re going to be very headstrong young women one day.

Miriam got to go to girl’s camp in June. She loved it and can’t wait to go again next year.

Josh and I spent a day together in Scottsdale. We went the expressionist art exhibit where they project the art work onto the wall while playing music in the background. Then he and I went to the mall nearby and checked out the Teslas and the Lucius. It was a fun day.

Miriam and I spent a day together at As you Wish where we did paint your pottery. We had fun, but she thought I spent too long on my Pyrex inspired dish.

Seamus came over and spent a day with us. I wish we could have him over more often, but my life is out of control right now. I also get so sad at how much Cyndie has missed out on. It’s overwhelming sometimes. 

Later in June we went to the cabin.

Josh and I went fishing with my dad at Big Lake and we caught some fish.

We made fish tacos with them. I’m surprised Josh was willing to eat them.

We spent lots of time at the Creek! Our favorite place!

Sugar had a blast. She was so silly. I have a video that I’ll figure out how to upload one day.

And Sugar being a lap dog.

Josh fishing at Big Lake with my Dad!

A bald eagle made a nest in this tree. I tried to get a picture, but couldn’t get close enough.

Garren bought himself a new car. I’ll be honest. . . It ticked me off. Our entire marriage I have always said how the BMW 3 series is my favorite car and he always says, “Get the idea out of your head because you’ll never have one as long as we’re married.” And then he went and bought one. Whatever. 

We celebrated our 18th wedding anniversary up at the cabin. It was a nice day. We went horseback riding, went out to lunch, then Garren bought me a wedding ring since I outgrew the originals after having kids. I love the ring! 

I’ll admit, this anniversary was a tough one. Garren has been working about 16 hours a day for the past. . . Year and a half! I have been feeling like he doesn’t like me, doesn’t want to spend time with me. He never really wants to do anything with me. I brought this to his attention and he is the one that organized the horseback riding. But I don’t know how to feel right now. I still feel like he doesn’t want to spend any time with me. I’m not really sure what to do about it. I try to organize things, but I feel like it’s always me.  He did set up a date a few eels ago for us. So maybe he’s realizing he can’t just work 16 hours a day, ignore me, then come to bed and expect me to have any desire to be intimate. I don’t know, it’s just really hard right now. We’re going through a rough patch, I guess. 

JULY

I spent the first half of July isolated in my room with Covid because my facility’s infection control is abysmal. I also got job interviews with Banner and had to do some virtually because I was sick. I would come out of my room early in the morning and get a few cups of water and other things I would need for the day then go isolate in my room. Garren slept in the guest bedroom. I would test myself every other day. Every time it came up positive I saw this in my head: 

Once I was over it I did an in person interview at Banner Heart Hospital here in Mesa next to Banner Baywood. A few days later I was offered all the jobs I interviewed for! I accepted the one with Banner Heart!

After I got over Covid, we went camping at Big Lake.We also spent more time at the cabin and creek as well. 

 

Walking on the golf course, our favorite evening activity.

More creek. Can’t get enough of it.

Kayaking on Big Lake.

Sugar is a terrible camper. So am I, if I’m being honest. But for reals, never again.

Evening at Big Lake.

It’s hard for me to camp physically. I can’t sleep anywhere but my own bed because of my EDS. But I do enjoy doing it anyway because I love being with my family. I love being away from the everyday stressors like work and chores. At home I always feel like I “should” be doing something. But I don’t feel that way while we’re camping or at the cabin. 

At the end of July Miriam started 8th grade. I’m the worst with pictures so I forgot first day of school pictures for both kids. Pretty sure this was the end of the second day of school. . . 

At the end of July I started my job and also started an EKG class to become a cardiographic technician. 

AUGUST

After both kids started school I started my new job. I have loved it so far. Everyone I work with seems happy to be here. It’s been really great. I keep seeing things and being a part of things that are inspiring. 

I finished my EKG class. This has made it so I can work in the monitor room here. (That’s where I am at right now). 

The only other things I have pictures of at the moment is the Fiesta Mall being torn down. I can’t believe it. So much of my childhood was here. 

I started school this past week. More on that in another post. 

It was a great summer. . . Minus the Covid. . . . 

Pets loving on me. 

OH! ANd the last thing that happened this month. . . . Ashley paid off the business! So I am officially no longer tied to Window Treatments by Melissa. Kind of a bitter sweet day.