February Excitement

February was an unusual month this year... ( well I guess February last year was unusual too- maybe I want to skip February from now on.)
On Tuesday, February 5, late afternoon, Ron went out for a bike ride. (Since we had a couple of incidents last year, where he passed out running... he usually tells me when he is going out biking or running and lets me know how long he expects to be gone.) So he must have left about 4, because I was expecting him back about 5. When I went downstairs to check on him, because I didn't hear him come in... he was standing in his office, probably recording his time. So I went to the kitchen to fix dinner. He went to take a shower. I guess near the end of his shower, he had an "event" happen ;) (It was actually a stroke) He said he had trouble getting out of the shower and getting dressed, then when he went to his office, he couldn't remember how to do anything on his computer. Probably about 6:30, I had dinner ready and he came and ate. Then at 7 we watched the state of the union address from pres. Trump. I didn't realize that anything had happened. I went to bed at my normal time and he came to bed later. At breakfast, he seemed quiet... but I still didn't realize that anything had happened. That day, we went into town for a short time and then drove over to Boerne and from there east and south to the temple, and then back. (We were actually looking for a place to move to that would be closer to a ward and close to the temple.) We stopped at WhataBurger in Boerne, probably about 3 pm. Then went home. Later when we had dinner, I asked him if he was feeling okay. That is when he said, "No, I am not all here". And then explained what had happened. To make a long story short... I couldn't get him to go see the doctor until the next Monday.(Sam and Audrey came out Sunday evening, and he did tell them what had happened. Although, at that point it was still just an "event"... we didn't know that it was a stroke.)  He knew that he was having trouble with his vision, his memory, and confusion. (He didn't have any of the normal stroke symptoms. No outward signs of any kind.) On Monday, Doctor Jafaar sent us directly to the emergency room in Boerne, and from there to Methodist hospital in SA. He spent Monday- Thursday there, doing all sorts of tests, determining that it was a stroke. Life has not been the same since. We have done numerous doctor appointments, he is on bp meds, and I need to be his short term memory and help him work through things on the computer. Our whole financial, RE investing, whatever other email and filing, and bill paying items he was used to doing, now takes two of us. We are desperately trying to reorganize and simplify our lives. His High Council calling and his temple calling have been on hold for the past couple of months. (we think a release is coming on the High Council calling). I have been doing most of the driving, because of his vision loss. (the vision on the right 40% of each eye is gone). Which, he can actually adjust to that. It is the memory loss and confusion still plaguing him. I am feeling pretty overwhelmed with the "weight of the situation" all on me. We are still hopeful that his brain will somehow heal and he will regain some of what he lost. But he has also had sleep problems, probably the result of sinus problems. (We saw a doctor last week for that, and hoping for improvement there that will allow him to sleep better. I think that good sleep is important for healing. But those results are yet to be seen.) So... now that I got this story written down, I will move on the Eli's birthday, Eli's baptism, and our trip to Santa Barbara. Maybe a quick Brown Baby Bird update. And then I should be pretty well caught up.
PS- I remembered an important thing that happened on Friday, February 8. We went to our normal temple shift that day. I needed to be there for my particular assignment and Ron still went as shift coordinator, even though he knew that he was struggling with his memory and thinking. (Remember, we haven't gone to doctor yet, at this point, so we don't know exactly what happened to him.) Heavenly Father, called me by name that day, and let me know that we were in a medical emergency. I have been grateful for that tender mercy. 

It's a New Year

So... I finished my blogging for 2018, and ordered my book. Now I can start on 2019. Some of the biggest changes for this year happened at church. There is a new "Come Follow Me" scripture study program, for individuals and families. Then also, a new "Come Follow Me" manual for primary. The basic idea is for families to study the scriptures at home and then be supported in the lessons at church. A "home centered", "church supported" scripture study. Our kids have done a great job of embracing that program and using it in their families. Then... instead of the 3 hour schedule for church meetings, it is now 2 hours. One hour for sacrament meeting and one hour for primary. (or Sunday school/RS/Priesthood.) The time just zips by. In Primary there is a very brief opening, 20 minutes of sing time, and 20 minutes of class time. Two teachers in every class. 4 presidency members to sit in class if needed.

The only other items I can "report on" right now are my two new Taggie sets for the market. One is specifically for Valentines Day. (and it is actually a book, and a Llama- not blanket.) The second one is just a general "Spring item". (Baby Bee). Our sales for January were very low- but that is to be expected. I sold one of the Valentine sets right away. When I posted that on Facebook, that post got shared around. Here is my "Valentine Llama" and my "Baby Bee". (with a Bee Happy, from Aurora.)

Just Kidding...

One last post- lol. 

Happy New Year... from all of us... here is the whole gang, at their best. 

And Last but not Least

My last two pics.

(It is mid February and I am done blogging for 2018. Now I can order my book.)

The end. The Petes are off to Missouri.

A Couple of Items That I Missed

I found a few pics on my phone of Jaden's birthday cake and pics from Christmas Eve.
The Petes and the Andersons went to a bounce place? jump place? game place? for Jaden's birthday. I can't remember exactly what kind of place it was. Since Ron and I didn't go there, I don't have any photos. But we did meet them back at Andersons home for cake. Luke sure enjoyed that chocolate cake.
Then the last pics are from dinner, on Christmas Eve, also at Andersons home. Sam and Rob cooked an amazing dinner, with prime rib and ham, and lots of sides. (everyone helped supply the side dishes). Then we teamed up...an adult...with a child to "make" puppets for the Twelve Days of Christmas song. I didn't get very good photos, but it was fun activity. (There is a video out there somewhere of that :)
The last picture is what Ron and Jaden did alot of... during Christmas vacation...
playing a board game.

Fireworks!!

One evening Sam brought some fireworks to shoot off. (Even though, we aren't supposed to do those in the neighborhood ;) So... here are some wild photos that I took and then played around with some enhancements.

Christmas Gifts

I thought I had quite a few pics of "opening gifts" but everyone was moving too much. When I got rid of the blurry ones... I only had 20 left- lol. We all went to Andersons for Christmas Eve dinner and fun. They stayed home and had Christmas morning, with just the boys. So it was us and the Petes for Christmas morning at our house. Later when Andersons came out we had a few gifts just for them. I'm sure that I cooked a big dinner...but I can't remember exactly what- lol. Again the weather was perfect for December!