SpOrTs

Sports are never ending around our household. When one season ends another begins. Sometimes it's all 4 children involved and sometimes it's just one. Hayden's to young, thank goodness. Here's what sports we have been involved in since August.

Kalia is in school sports this year. She began the school year and the season with Volleyball. It was fun and frustrating to watch all at the same time. My inner competitiveness of playing so many years was trying to break out while I tried to suppress it. She did great and is coming along. The team did ok, they won some and lost some. I'm excited for next year and High School play, I know that she will get better and more instruction. I can see the volleyball star in her just trying to break out!

Volleyball ended in October. She had a couple of weeks off and then Basketball started. They have only played a couple of games and are getting better each time. She absolutely loves Volleyball but when basketball started she was excited to remember how fun it was. She had played in the city leagues for the 4th-6th graders in Yuma but had forgotten how much she enjoyed it. Eric has been teaching her a couple of moves and she does a great job. It's fun to see her progression and talent coming out.

Eric, Parker, Alani and Kaleb were involved in Soccer from September to November. Parker was a rock star and a great asset to his team. He even played goalie part time for the first time. His coach would put him in as goalie when they played a harder team. Hardly any balls would get past him. They won many games because of the amount of shots he stopped. He was chosen to play on the All-Star game at the end of the season. His team won!

Eric coached Alani & Kaleb's team. They did AWESOME! He got a team with the most amount of girls and more of the younger players and did an incredible job with them. They lost only 2 games and tied for first with the amount of losses. He had some talent on his team but his coaching made them all great. He would make up games and drills at practice that tailored to 7-9 year olds. All the kids LOVED practice and were always sad when it ended. At the end of the season they had an All Star game. The top 2 couches got to coach and Eric was one of them. They practiced for a week and then played. Eric's team won and he was thrilled.

Kaleb wasn't afraid of anything. He was one of the younger ones. He would get right in there and take charge. He made many goals and could hang with the 9 yr old boys.

Alani was fast and great on defense. She would chase the ball and opponent down the field and stop them with ease. She too made a couple of goals and loved every moment of it.

Our next adventure that is starting is Bantam Basketball for Parker and Eric. It's Basketball for the 5th & 6th graders. Eric was hired as the director and will run the whole thing. Parker will play. Our Saturdays are gone from now until March.

As for me I'm the cheerleader and biggest supporter for all my children and husband. I'm excited that Eric has been able to have so much involvement with our children the last several months. He's gone so many years without being able to be involved and barely making it to a game or two. He'll keep doing it as long as he can.

Knee Injury Part 2

On Oct 21 at 6:30am I checked into the Hospital to have my ACL fixed. ACL stands for Anterior Cruciate Ligament, it's in the knee. This was the result of my Skiing trip back in April when I was attempting to learn how to ski and biffed it hard went tumbling a couple of times and while tumbling tore my ACL. Because of my desire to continue being very active especially with playing sports such as volleyball and basketball I decided to have it fixed.

They promptly started to get me prepped for my 7:30am surgery. Before they would even consider doing the surgery they had to make sure that I wasn't pregnant. I told them there was no way but they still made me take the test. Much to my delight they said there was no number 6 on the way. There should there never be a number 6!

My surgery consisted of me having a spinal block and also a shot in my leg that would send electrical currents to my nerve endings and numb certain parts of my leg, mainly my knee. This would last anywhere from 12-18hrs. I would have 3 very small incisions and one larger 2 inch incision. To start me out they put something in my IV to make me relax and sort of go to sleep but not really go to sleep (so they told me). This was done to give me the spinal block. The anesthesiologist said I would be awake once we were in the surgery room. My Dr. had said earlier at my Pre-Op Appt. that if I wanted to I could watch the whole procedure on TV. The surgery is done Arthroscopic so I would be able to see what the camera was seeing. I told him no way but he said it was my choice, I could start to watch it then if I wanted I could take a nice nap until the recovery room. Well the only thing I remember from this point on is when they strapped my arms down and asked if I was ok. From talking to some of the nurses and the Dr. I was awake for more than I thought. I was answering questions and talking normal but I remember nothing. I asked if I said anything weird or strange but they said I was good. I am still just amazed that I didn't remember a thing. My Dr. said it's because I have "spring water blood".

My sad swollen knee.


I was also told in my Pre-Op that I would probably be able to go home around 11:00-11:30am depending on how I responded to the anesthesia. Needless to say...I was the first surgery of the day and was second to last to leave. I didn't get to leave until 2:30 or 3:00. I then fought nausea all the way home. Once I got home I started to feel a little better. My knee wasn't horrible because the shot they gave me was still in effect. What hurt was my hamstring. They took a tendon from it to create my new ACL and that area was not covered by the shot.

By night I was feeling worse instead of better. I began to feel lightheaded, dizzy, and nauseous all over again. This was how I felt all day Thursday and Friday morning. I would only get out of bed to use the bathroom and then would be so motion sick by the time I got back I would throw up. Lights hurt my head, moving hurt my head, the TV made me sick. I was miserable not because of my knee but because of the rest of this junk I was dealing with. Finally Friday morning I called the Dr. office to have my pain killers changed. They went ahead and changed them but also said it sounded like a Spinal Headache. To be honest I'll never know which one was causing all this because at this point I asked for a blessing. Eric and my Dad gave me one, I fell asleep for a couple of hours and then felt tons better when I woke up.

From this point on things began to look up. My knee hurt and ached all the time but it was bare able (most of the time). Five days after surgery I began Physical Therapy. I had no movement in my knee, I couldn't straighten or bend it. Simple exercises I had to do like bending my knee was exhausting and painful. I was however determined to press on. From the moment I left the hospital I was bound to either crutches or a brace. I had to use one or the other anytime I was standing. The brace drove me crazy and I believe caused more pain. I had to get my quad to set before I could get rid of them. The surgery causes your quad to go to mush and that's what helps you walk and stand up without falling down.





The following Monday, 12 days after surgery I was able to get rid of the crutches and brace. What a happy person I was!! I go to Physical Therapy twice a week and also have exercises I have to do at home twice a day. I'm still working on being able to bend my leg and get it straight. I still walk with a limp, which my family loves to make fun of. It aches and I feel it every single moment I'm awake including the middle of the night. I am however slowly progressing. I have strict orders to only walk for the next 3 months. I can once I have more movement swim and ride a bike but no jogging or anything else. I might just go crazy and get fat all at the same time!! Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Years, I am so in trouble!!!!!!!!




These are pictures my Dr. took during surgery. The top left picture is of my injured ACL. The pictues show where he cleared it out and then the last one is of my new ACL. Modern medicine and technology is just AMAZING!!

Fair Weekend

This past weekend was the Graham County Fair. It was from Thursday to Sunday. Thursday night is when all the teenagers go. They get a wrist band for $18 and ride as many rides as they like. I like to call it Test Night (they test all the rides on the children). Kalia of course went to this. Friday morning begins with a parade. Alani is in a dance class and so she was in it and danced her little heart out. At this point tradition says to go eat and then head to the fair. Well...we didn't do that this year. A couple of the small towns around here has the Swine Flu and Influenza A running wild. Now you know all those lovely people will be there touching everything, breathing on everything, and contaminating everything. So, we bribed our children. A toy from Wal-Mart and bowling. They were very excited about this and so that is what we did.

They were all very excited about bowling including Hayden. He was bouncing off the walls when we got there cause he could hardly wait. We got our shoes, balls, and names all put in. We began but Hayden was all of a sudden totally and completely unwilling to bowl. He wouldn't walk up to lane for anything. We finally figured out way he was so afraid.



This lovely skeleton was right over our lane. He was terrified of it. Eric finally talked him into walking up to the lane turning backwards and pushing the ball through his legs. It was so cute I couldn't resist snapping a picture and writing about it.

*Kalia was allowed to go to the fair with a bottle of Purell and a promise to use it after every ride,before eating anything, and no touching her nose, mouth, or face. She also had to take a shower the minute she walked in the door.
(I know, I'm a freak!)

Once in a lifetime...

This was probably a once in a life time experience for me. I, along with many Gila Valley residents, got to witness the Angel Moroni being raised and put on the top of the Gila Valley Temple.

This took place back on September 22 but because of my laziness I'm barely getting to it. We found out by word of mouth (as did everyone else) that it was taking place. Soon the highway was lined with many cars. Eric, my Dad, Hayden and myself found a spot right by the temple and stood and watched in amazement as it was done.

It was amazing to think that temples in the past were done without all the modern technology and machinery that we have today. All the work around the temple came to a stop as Moroni was being raised and yes there was a great feeling of peace and our Heavenly Fathers love was felt there.

I have LOVED being able to drive by everyday and see the progress that is made. Everytime I am in complete awe of it and am so excited to have a temple just a couple of miles from our

home.

Oh What Do You Do In the Summertime?

(I actually wrote this post all the way back on July 20th but didn't post it because I needed to add more pictures...almost 2 months later I'm finally getting back to it! It's long, grab some popcorn.)

I haven't posted anything about our summer. It's not because it's was boring and nothing to report but quit the opposite. A normal summer for us in the past would be to leave home the minute school got out and hit the road to go visit family. Well we now live near family and our annual trip to Utah didn't happen until the end of July. What would we do all of June and most of July? Let me tell you:

In June we had a visit from Kuliana's family for a week. We had a busy week with playing and with baseball games. Kanani had also volunteered us to put on a little production for a Luai so we practiced a couple of days to relearn a dance and to teach our girls some dances. I was nervous about it but it turned out great. Everyone did a great job. Especially Kuliana, she was the teacher and she did a solo dance. She is awesome at Hula and I loved watching her dance, I definetly would love to learn it way better and to beable to move like that. It is such a beautiful style of dance that I feel it has a very spritual side to it.

A week later myself, Alani, Kaleb, & Hayden, Kanani and her 3 youngest and Lehua and her two kiddos headed to Kuliana's for a fabulous birthday party for Kenzi. Todd had won a horse party at there preschool's silent auction and we all got to benefit from it. The first day we got there we headed out to see Kuliana's new house that was being built. It was gorgeous.

The next day we got brave and took our children to the Zoo.

When we got home the kids had a great time with the slip in slide.

The next day we rested and decided to only go to a movie. Then on Saturday we went to the party and the kids had a blast. They horse painted, played with lizards, panned for gold, and rode horses. What a fantastic party!

Leilani's family came next to visit. They were actually waiting for us when we got home from Kuliana's. We went swimming, bike riding, and pond jumping.

In the middle of all this we had baseball and softball going on. Parker started his league shortly after we moved here in March and his season went into the middle of June.

Kalia and Kaleb started in May and went until the first week of July. Eric was also heavily involved in this. Hours before Kalia's first game we got a phone call saying that if we didn't coach her team, her team wouldn't be able to play. So, Eric took over. He was a little freaked out at first never before having coached girls fast pitch. He didn't even know all the rules that went along with it. But thanks to you tube he learned many things, like how to fast pitch!! Kalia I think was getting tired of watching videos on how to pitch. She did pitch half way through the season and did great. This was her first year of playing softball or baseball. She picked up on it quite easily and started to develop yet another talent.

So our nights in June were spent running between games. On the nights that we didn't have games we had practices. We were all happy when everyone was finished and we got to relax a little.

This brings us into July. July started with Eric heading off to Gerinomo (scout camp) on the 4th of July. Yep you read it on the 4th. I thought the day would be ruined for the rest of us but we ended up having a great day. We started by going to the cheesy little parade they had here. We then went swimming at Lehua's neighbors house and spent hours there. Kaleb learned how to do flips off the diving board. (To my horror the following Monday he decided to try it off the high dive. I was glad I didn't see that!) We then went back to Dad's and had Hamburgers and Hot Dogs. He cooked them and they were delicious. After that we headed up to the fireworks. Kanani's family had found a great spot last year on the baseball fields and so we headed there. We just didn't know that they would be setting them off on the baseball field in front of us a whole 200yds away. We had to crank our heads all the way back to watch them because they were practically on top of us. Some of them even fell to the ground maybe 30 yds in front of us. It scared my poor little Alani like crazy and now she never wants to see fireworks again. They lasted about 30 minutes, our little town gave a great show.

The rest of July up to this point as been talked about, our anniversary (and yes Eric was at Gerinomo for that too), Wicked (incredible), trip to Yuma (exhausting). The week before we left for Utah Kaleb had Karate Camp and Kalia had Volleball Camp. We then headed out to Utah...that will be a later post! I hope.

Good Bye Yuma

Last week Eric and I made our last trip to Yuma to pick up the rest of our stuff. It has taken many trips back and forth but we are finally done. Our house has sold and was suppose to close July 15th but of course it's been delayed. We are so grateful that it's under contract especially with today's market. We loved our time in Yuma and will never forget all the great people we met and all the wonderful friends we made. As we drove away from our gorgeous house I was a little sad to think that I once lived in such a big place, but found myself grateful to be where we are today even if it's not our own. We made many stops on our way out. Our final stop was for gas and drinks it was at the Barneys off of Fortuna Road. I found it ironic as I thought back 8 years ago...this was the exit Eric got off of as he brought me into Yuma for the very first time and here we where again at that same exit for our last trip out.

16 Years!!!!

Sixteen wonderful years ago Eric and I were married for time and all eternity. I love this man dearly. I can honestly say that I love him more today than I did 16 years ago. He is definitely my match. His strengths compliment my weakness's and his weakness's compliment my strengths. He lets me rant and rave when I'm all worked up and then calms me and loves me just the same. He makes me laugh when I'm happy and mad. He sees the good in all things and never has any regrets. Simple things bring him happiness and joy. His faith never falters and he leads our family with love. I am eternally grateful to have him forever!!

WICKED

Fabulous, Wonderful, Fantastic, Incredible, Loved it!! Eric and I along with three of my sisters, Kanani, Lehua, and Kuliana and their husbands went and saw Wicked on Thursday July 2. Us girls had been excited for months. Eric was glad to go but the other 3 men weren't to sure. I was hooked from the moment it began and loved every minute of it. I've find myself thinking about it days later and would love to see it again. I will never look at The Wizard of Oz the same way. Music is such an incredible gift that has been given to all of us to enjoy and enjoy it I did.

We then spent the rest of the day shopping, eating some incredible BBQ, and enjoying each others company without kids!! What a lovely day it was!!

Happy Birthday Kaleb!

Happy Birthday to my Kainoa!! He is such a great child. All the women love him and he pretty much gets everything he wants. All you have to do is look into his eyes and you're hooked. I'm so happy Heavenly Father knew what was best for our family and sent Kaleb to us. I love him lots. He brings me great joy!!