More Paul's knee replacement recovery

 We went up to Park City on the 15/16th for Paul's two-week check up.  It was actually almost 3 weeks.  He got his staples out by an assistant and then she put lots of steri-strips on to last until his 6-week check.  Then the doctor came in and checked it out and pronounced it good.  We had a good trip up and stayed the night in Heber to be there for the 9 am appointment.  We didn't stop enough along the way to walk around and did no icing and Paul paid for it that night with a very painful time with muscle spasms in his knee.  It was SO painful for him.  We learned our lesson, and on the way home we stopped lots and we made sure he had ice on and he also took a pain pill before we left.  We had much better results.  We stopped in for breakfast at the amazing hospital cafe as we were leaving the clinic.  We had a great custom made omelets and other yummy things.  

Some of the other stops were at The Creamery in Beaver and then in Cedar City to eat dinner with Bean.  Before dinner we went to SUU and walked around a couple of statue gardens and then stopped by to visit Juge and Lance and meet their new kitten, Pippin.  He's adorable and we had a fun visit and then had dinner with Bean at Costa Vida.  Ellie was there working an waited on us!  

He has been going to physical therapy 2 times a week and is making good progress there.  It's been more painful and is taking longer to be able to be up and around than he thought it would be, but I think we are starting to turn the corner now.  

6/16/25 - Well, here's the finished, after 6-week check up scar.  He's done until a next year check up.  He has two more PT appointments, and then he's done.  Last time he got 127 on his extension and 120 is what they were shooting for!  It's amazing that such a giant cut it pretty much healed.  Hiking up to Timpanogas Cave was the real test...and he did it with no pain in the knee!  Yippee!! Surgery date was 4/28/25.

Paul update, 1st summer hike, Ironman

 I have still been able to take my morning walks most days while Paul is recovering.  We have the schedule working so I can do what I need to for him before I need to go to work in the morning and I'm really glad the walk still fit into it.  We are both feeling the cooped up feeling that his immobility is causing.  He's doing well with his PT and making good progress.  He can walk without his crutches now.  He can make his own lunch and breakfast pretty much and take his shower/shave.  He just needs a little help getting his horrible TED (compression) socks on in the morning and it's helpful if I can get his ice on his leg for him.  Riding in the car, standing or sitting for too long are not good.  He is better off laying down with his leg up and with ice on it.  A little at a time.  I took him and Anna Lou out to Culver's today for lunch for her for Mother's Day (he still cannot drive). She had to ride in the back seat since he has to lay down pretty much in the front passenger seat.  She could hardly get in and out.  We decided to just eat outside in the shade at Culver's since it was right next to where we were parking.  We got her over there.  Then while we were trying to eat, Paul started having lots of  pain from sitting on the bench and not being able to lay back.  He had to get up and walk around to eat.  Then she had to suddenly use the bathroom, so I had to guide her inside to do that.  When we got back, Paul had finished eating and gone to lay back in the car.  My ice cream was soup by then.  She finished up her food and made it over to the car.  I got her all buckled in. It was such a lot of work for both of them and me.  I'm not sure it was the relaxation anyone hoped for.  But we made it.  Hope not to do it again until Paul is feeling lots better.  We went up to see Bean yesterday to go out for dinner and had pretty much the same experience for Paul.  Too much pain.  Enough!  Just gotta take the time to get better.  I'm getting very tired because sleep is being very interrupted with all of Paul's discomfort.  I may just have to sleep downstairs.  I feel very sleep deprived and still need to keep going and go to work too.  He can nap all day long as needed, but not me.  I'm happy to take care of him, but I'm kind of feeling the strain of the no sleep.  Soon he will be up and at it again.  Until then, thank goodness for morning walks!  I should have taken a picture of Paul and of her with her Mother's Day balloon and chocolates, but it was pretty much a stressful event and I forgot.  

On Friday morning I got to take a "walk" with April Moore, the camp director for our home ward.  She wanted to have me go along to make sure she knew how to find the waterfall trail that we did last year for stake girl's camp.  She pretty much remembered it, but we had to look around a little here and there to find the best path.  We left at 8 am and got it done as well as checking out her camp spots in the campground.  It was a fun morning in such a beautiful place and I really enjoyed visiting with her and getting to know her just a bit better.  She's such a nice girl and has such a nice family.  It was a glorious morning walk for me!  She felt like she needed to do something for me for taking time to go with her.  I told her I was just so glad to get out and go with her in such a beautiful place. I thanked her for that chance! 

This morning on my usual walk I got to check out lot of Ironman preparations that were in evidence along the way.  It was fun and the morning was cool, quiet and nice.  Then I got home and got Paul's terrible socks on and then he showed me how to get the mower started so I could mow the lawn before it got too hot.  

May birthdays are here!

Can't get a May birthday any sooner than May 1st!  Today was Kaebri's #23!  She had to come to us since Paul's not up and about too much yet.  She came over on a break from work.  Kaebri is a dear.  We loved having her live with us for a little bit before she went on her mission.  She's just a truly good, kind and wonderful person.  She's working for Design to Print and we are so happy that she loves the job.  It's run by some good friends of our and seems like a perfect fit for her!  She recently moved to a brand new apartment and as yet still has it all to herself.  She got tired of student housing apartments.  She seems to be moving forward in good ways!  Love you Kaebri!  Happy #23!  I know your mom is proud of you and up there cheering for you!  Pictures from today and some past memories!  

Had a fun evening with all of the Smith kids tonight.  Tasia is home from BYU, so it was nice to have her back in town.  We visited and heard about all the things that people have been/are going to be doing.  It felt good to just have them here and enjoy them.  They are growing up to be great young people.  I'm sure Weed is proud of them.  Happy Birthday Zade and Trigg!  Love you!  Happy end of school Tasia - and love you too!  

Flashback picture!  

Madi and Clara rock it...on their violins!

Here's what Brynn wrote about these amazing granddaughters:  "These two work hard and practice, practice, practice.  Sometimes its a fight, and sometimes they love it but they are doing great and we are proud of their hard work. These days are always paydays.  Madi graduated from book 5, and Clara from book 2."  Wow!  What a great talent these girls have developed over the years of dedication in their pursuit of excellence.  We are so proud of you (and your parents).  It's been lots of work for all of you.  Way to go girls!  

Ellie graduates from the Beacon Academy of Southern Utah

 I wish we could have been there for her big day, but Paul's knee was just not ready the day after we got  home, April 30th.  She has worked hard I'm sure.  I know she has enjoyed the foreign travel opportunities as well.  She especially seemed to enjoy the trip to Paris this spring.  I think it was a really nice bonding/end of shared educational experience for her and her mom.  I will admit that trying to have a close relationship with older grand kids is hard for me.  They hit teenage and then they are off and running and so busy with work, friends and school and hopefully church. There are so many of them that we can't keep up with all of the activities that we could attend for them.  There are too many even within one week's time.  We are proud of Ellie's hard work in school, at her job and in her life with her peers and at church.  She has a very nice boyfriend on a mission.  We love that she has decided to serve a mission as well. She is such a hard worker having saved enough money to pay for her mission.  She's a granddaughter to be so very proud of. Congratulations Ellie!  You've made good work of it so far.  Keep it up!  We love you!  

Paul gets a full knee replacement & Eliza gets a broken clavicle

 

On Monday, May 28th, the deed was done.  We had it done in Park City with Dr. Lind the attending physician.  He did the partial about 11 years ago and said it would last about that long.  The arthritis and wear and tear had done its' work and it was time to get the full knee replacement now.  They had a cancelation, so we were able to get in quickly.  I have taken the whole week off school for it and am glad that I could do that to be here to help Paul get started on his recovery.  It's going to be a while, but it will be worth it.  Down the road he will have to have the other partial replaced most likely as well.  The nurses and other hospital staff were great along with the doctor.  I drove  him home from the hospital on Tuesday afternoon.  He has had his first physical therapy appointment here.  Now onward to a great full recovery!  Paul made it his work to get to know and visit with all of the staff who took care of him.  I'm sure they all loved talking with him and hearing his jokes!  

From Moss - "Eliza decided to join Grandpa as an invalid.  Broke her clavicle shouldering a big cedar girl off the ball in her soccer game last night, Wednesday, May 30th. (And yes, she did win the ball.)"  So sorry Eliza.  Hope you heal quick!  Love you! We've noticed how hard you've been trying to be more aggressive even though you're kind of a tiny mite among the bigs.  

April Birthdays - Christy #37, Noah #16/late celebration, Essie #11 and Afton's play too!

 April is a little bit low on birthdays compared to other months.  Christie and Essie are really the only ones.  Noah's birthday is in December 2, but he's decided he'd rather save it until April 2nd for his own reasons, so that's when we celebrate it too!  Christie turned 37 this year.  She was such a little kid when Moss married it seemed like, but she has turned into a beautiful, confident, accomplished woman.  I can't believe how many things she's involved in and doing an amazing job of.  Great way to grow up Christie!  Happy #37!  We love you and are proud of you!

Noah's to that great age where things really get fun.  He did get his license when he really turned 16.  Didn't want to wait for that.  He's a great snowboarder and scooter rider.  He's been in some really good plays at school and is sure that girls are "not interesting or interested" he says.  Hopefully that will improve with some more time and experience.  He's working hard to grow up and has worked through some rough patches and is a great guy.  Love you Noah!  Happy #16! One thing about Noah is that the next time you see him he will probably have a new haircut or at least a new color!  

Along with all of the birthdays, we got to go up and see Afton perform in Much Ado About Nothing - her school's 80's rendition of it.  She played a couple of parts and did a great job.  It was a fun evening!  It's so good to see her being confident and having such a good time.

We got to celebrate with Essie for her #11 in person! It worked out that we happened to be up there for Paul to get his knee replacement surgery done.  We went up a little bit early so we could hang out with Jay, Brynn and girls.  The first part of the trip was fun...the last part was good to get over with and get back home.  

Madi and Tahlia both participated in the ice bucket challenge for Mental Awareness while we were there!

Ellie opens her mission call!

 It's Tuesday, April 22nd and at 7:30 pm Ellie opened her mission call.  She's been called to serve in the California, Riverside Mission beginning her home MTC training on August 11th and will report to the MTC in Provo, UT on the 20th.  We don't know much more than that at the moment, but we are so excited and proud that Ellie has chosen to accept this chance to serve Heavenly Father, Jesus Christ and her fellowmen.  I have no picture to put with this unfortunately.  Couldn't screen shot it.  I'll just have to put  something in later when I get something.  

Ellie update - she got her wisdom teeth out the other day.  Fun stuff!  Getting things ready.  She did a shopping trip up north for clothes.  She bought a nice new camera and is doing on-line training suggested by Brynn to learn how to work it.  While she was up there getting clothes, she spent some time learning how to edit with Brynn and also went on a photo shoot with her to learn more.  She and Brynn did some editing on a mission photo someone else took of her.  Her farewell is on August 10th.  Coming right up!!!

We're getting close now to the big day and then the even bigger day!  

Zade - Brag Time!!!

Great things happening for Zade lately!  He got his braces off!!!  Lookin' so good!  He participated in a Skill's USA Knowledge Bowl school competition in SLC where his team took 2nd place!!! And, he got a 35 on his ACT test...a 36 is perfect, so he came pretty close!  That means a lot of colleges will be willing to invite him to come and offer him scholarships.  Way to work hard and be smart and have fun Zade!  Proud you!  Now I need of pic of you playing in your Jazz Band!

Art around the Corner 2025

 

Went for a walk and saw some awesome new statues that the Art Around the Corner put up for this year!  If I could have one, I'd choose the frog.  It has a saddle and begs for kids to hop on for a ride!