JONO'S FIRST STATE CLINIC

Jono had his first state clinic for gymnastics this past weekend. It was the first thing he's had like this. There were hundreds of kids being taught by the best instructors from all over the world, i.e. Germany, Australia, Russia and different parts of the United States. We aren't sure why but each of the instructors took to him as he passed through their area each day and spent a good deal of time with him. #Blessings.

He learned a great deal and we are so proud of him. He is really doing well and I am posting this little video just to show him off a little.  Hopefully, it will work this time. It works in Preview mode but for some reason when I post it, it is still. I will keep trying!

WHAT A STORM!

Wow, what a storm we had today! I didn't even know it was coming until about 20 minutes before it hit. Thankfully, I was able to pick the kids up from school and get them home first. We had 70 mph winds, rain, lightening--snow and even a tornado. All this happened either right around us or within 15 minutes of our home. Thankfully, the tornado and snow were about 15 minutes away--though there were moments when I wasn't sure the tornado was that far away. And neither was Carly. Jono was actually pretty calm but Carly hates storms. Really bad. So, I spent a good deal of time calming her down. I had to take Jono to gymnastics and she did not want me to leave the house. I finally talked her into coming with us. She was still not a happy camper but I think it was better for her to be with us than to let her imagination run wild while I was away.

When we left the house, branches were down everywhere from the wind. Traffic lights were out all over, there were accidents on the freeway and when I started listening to the radio for weather and traffic, I heard 34,000 homes had lost power. It was stunning how fast and hard the storm had hit. It took us 30 minutes to go ten miles both coming and going. It was really nuts. I forget how powerful wind can be until a windstorm hits. It's OK with me if we don't have another one for a very long time--or never. :)

A MOUTHFUL

Yesterday Hubby had more surgery on his mouth. They went in to see if he had infection where they did implant surgery a couple months ago and sure enough there was infection everywhere. They ended up having to even remove the implant. They even had to go in and lift of his sinuses and clean out infection. Poor guy cannot seem to catch a break. To say he is miserable would definitely be an understatement. They have to let everything completely heal before they can even consider re-doing the implant. So frustrating--and so painful for him. I feel so awful for him.

Today is my niece Caitlin's birthday. I remember when she was born so many years ago. Now she is married with kids of her own. Time sure flies.  Well, I'd better get some sleep so I can get up and get the kids off to school.

A SHORT VISIT HOME

Grandma will be coming home to Greencastle in a week or two for her sister Kaye's memorial service. Unfortunately Grandpa isn't strong enough to travel with her so he will be staying here with me. Sarah is planning to come up to help as well.

For those of you interested in attending, Kaye McKameys service is being held on October 1, at 1:00 pm at Brick Chapel Church in just north of Greencastle.

WEBER STATE! AIN'T IT GREAT! LOL!

Last night the kids went to a rehearsal/training with the Weber State Cheer Squad. They and a bunch of other kids get to perform with the Weber State Cheer Squad at half time during their game on Saturday night. They had a really fun time. The guys on the squad worked on a routine with the little boys and the girls worked with all the little girls. I think their performances are going to be really cute. Here's a photo in their Weber T's!

Carly and Jono with the Weber State Mascot

MORE SAD NEWS

Heaven has claimed another angel. My sweet Aunt Kaye passed away quietly this afternoon. My heart is sad but I know she is so much happier where she is now. I am certain she is having amazing reunions with lost children, parents, siblings, friends and her sweetheart, Uncle White Socks. She is free from pain and surrounded by loved ones. What more could you ask for? We will miss her--that's for sure but know she is in a much better place.

I love you Aunt Katy-did and will miss your smiling face and cute laugh!

Kaye McKamey

SAD NEWS

We got a call this morning that my mom's sister Kaye McKamey had another stroke last night. She is in Augusta, GA now with her daughter Ronda and granddaughter Michelle. They have her on Hospice and she doesn't want any extraordinary measures taken.

She has not been conscious all day but we got an update from Ronda this evening. She said when her sister Vicki came to see their mom today they got her to open her eyes and call Vicki by a nickname she uses for her.

Thankfully, the kids have all been there in the last little while. There isn't much chance she will come out of this one, but we can hope. Prayers help. Thanks all.

LUNG HACKING AND OTHER FUN STUFF

I had to keep Jono home from school today because he was still sick. Of course, by mid-day he was full of energy and it was a fight the rest of the day to keep him inside and right-side-up. He's been coughing pretty bad for a couple of days and complaining of a sore throat so I figured it would be a quiet day with him laying on the couch or maybe even sleeping. Oh no! He wasn't having any of that. So, I've decided that unless he actually produces the lung it sounds like he's coughing up in the morning--that boy is going to school tomorrow! :)

FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL PHOTOS

My little ones are getting big so fast. It's really hard for me to believe they are 8 1/2 and 7 now. Seems like only yesterday they were tiny. They are first and third graders this year and are loving their classes and teachers. Here are their pictures from the first day of school.

Miss Carly all ready to start school!

Let's get this day started!

Excited for his first day!

First grade here I come!

WHERE'S JOHNNY APPLESEED WHEN YOU NEED HIM?

Julie came up last night and spent the night. We watched a movie and hung out. Got up this morning, made omelettes and then went and picked apples off a neighbor's tree. It was an awesome tree. I love to climb trees so i was right in my element loving every minute of it!

 

Some of the apples we picked were called "Jonathan" apples and are some of the best apples I've ever tasted. Jono and Carly can't get over the fact that there are actually apples named after Jono. They are so impressed. Problem is that now Carly wants to go find her apple tree (Cuz you know we must all have one, right? See kid logic, page 54 Lol.) I think I may be in a bit of trouble. Can anyone point me to the Carly Apple trees? Don't know how I did not see that one coming! Silly me! Lol!

PRETTY SURE HIS FEET ARE MADE OF RUBBER

This is Jono. Pretty cool, for just turning seven, eh?!

IT'S FRIDAY!

Yay! It's Friday! A weekend! It's always so nice to get to a weekend. I know everyone probably feels that way. I love having my husband home, carpool is done, kids can play with friends and I am not on a regimented schedule.

We don't have any huge plans. We are just going to try to do some of the things that NEED to get done, like cleaning out the garage, mowing the lawn and putting away things for winter. We are also manning a booth tomorrow to sell a fundraiser for Jonathon's gymnastics. We are hoping we can sell it out pretty fast.

He's a crazy good little gymnast! We recently switched to a new gymnastics studio and coach and he was good enough to make their competition team straight out of the gate. Thus, the fundraiser for uniforms, meet fees and travel costs. Yes, I know he just turned 7--but he is really good and we just can't hold him back. I will post a video separate from this post so you can get an idea of his current level.

Carly is our Karate girl. She is doing so awesome! She has her third belt and is well on her way to her 4th belt test. She can break two boards at once now--totally amazing! Her Karate Sensei is a really great teacher and very invested in his students success. She just loves him! She even invited him to her baptism and he came. That really impressed me.

Well, I'd better get busy. I will write more later. 

I HAVEN'T FORGOTTEN YOU

No, I haven't forgotten you. In fact, I regularly have guilt about not having kept up my blog. I'm hopeful now that the kids are back in school (and both of them are there all day now) that I can set aside a time during my day to just write. I am starting to get the hang of my new schedule. Carly has Karate Monday and Wednesday and Jono has Gymnsastics Tuesday and Thursday. We have a playgroup on Friday. Also, I'm helping in the kid's classrooms this year--but just for an hour a couple days a week.

Our grandson turned 3 months old a week ago! We miss him a bunch. They are moving closer at the end of this month. Instead of being twelve hours away, they will only be about 3.5 hours away. We are really excited to have him closer. Oh, and his parents too. Lol.

And maybe one of the real reasons I've put off writing is that whole river in Egypt thing. You know, De Nile or is it Denial? Yah, that. It's hard to feel like writing cheery updates about things being fine when you are starting to watch them begin to slide a bit down hill.

Mom usually reads this to Dad when I write, but I've asked her to skip this part so I can give you an honest update that won't upset him. For the last several months, he has been getting thinner and weaker. He hardly eats enough to keep a bird alive. I never knew this about Parkinson's, but it is a mean disease. It makes everything you do more difficult. The simplest tasks become monumental challenges, i.e. eating, drinking, swallowing, walking, talking. It steals your voice, it stiffens you and makes you ache. It makes you quake. Writing, holding objects, carrying anything--become near impossible. The great thing is though, my father has all his faculties. He is alert and aware. He has a better memory than I do. He gets up almost everyday and works away at his desk. He writes you, he writes Washington, he gets up every morning trying to figure out what he can do that day to make the world a better place. I love that about him. He is still working hard and still has the ideals and values he taught me as a child.

The part I haven't wanted to face is that I don't know how long I will get to keep my Dad. Parkinson's makes it hard enough for him to walk, but on top of that he has Post Polio, so his legs really are on their "last nerve." I haven't posted any pics for awhile. I think the last time was at his birthday party and that may have been only on Facebook. Someone wrote my mom and asked if dad had suffered a stroke. No, thankfully he has not. But if you saw him, you would think he was frightfully thin and he does have a difficult time talking, i.e., getting his voice loud enough, and getting his mouth to form the words his voice wants to say.

But please, keep calling, writing and communicating with him. You are his life-lines. Because he has a hard time walking now, he rarely gets out of the house. He goes out for doctor appointments and the occasional family birthday party. Other than that he hangs out here which is where he is comfortable.

Mom is doing well. She is such an amazing person. She takes such good care of him. She is a great mom and grandma and we all keep her pretty busy--but no one keeps her as busy as grandpa does. Lol. More later.