Long over due reconnecting with family.

Kacey and the beautiful Megan and Lauren!

 

For what ever reason my husband and his sister became estranged many years ago. I never knew what happened between them, I simply felt the loss of Brenda and my nieces and nephews. Hill often asked me why she never saw her Auntie Bea and her cousins any more. I never had a good answer and wondered myself.

 

I had loved these babies from the first moment Glenn carried an 8 month old Shawna out to the car on our first date. He knew how much children meant to me from our talk during dinner. At this time his father was dying of cancer in his home, and I never did go inside until his father passed away. But that first night he stopped at his home for something and he carried her out to the car in a blanket and put her in my arms, and the sweet cherubic face just stole my heart right then and there.

 

Kacey came next and I fell in love with her from day one when I went to the hospital to visit Brenda after she gave birth to Kacey. However, I did not know I had the measles until that next night at 2 am while I was working at Winchell's making donuts. I was pouring coffee for a Sheriff friend and he said, "Robin I think you have the measles", well he was right I did. Thanks to the Easter Bunny in the Fresno Easter Egg hunt who exposed everyone. So, I called St. Agnus hospital to tell them I had unknowingly been there in their nursery area while I had a fever. They shut down the hospital's nursery and birthing center to fathers only for years after that! To protect the newborns from other diseases. Opps! Brenda had thought long and hard about her name and didn't want anyone else to be named the same, so she spelled Kacey's name unlike any spelling found at the time. She was very upset when a few years later Grandma Scott's neighbor's daughter stole her name and the spelling because she had liked it.

 

When Glenn passed away we were able to locate them in the state of Washington. I have a truly full heart for the first time in years. I missed them so much and missed so much of their lives. So far to date my biggest regret is not stepping across those lines and finding them and being apart of their lives. They did not even know Hill and I loved them, I can't go back but wish I could... 

 

After Glenn's memorial service we were able to spend time catching up with Brenda and Shawna and her husband Mick Wingert. Thereafter, we were invited to spend holidays with Mick's family in Madera, and absolutely loved them as well. When we travel to CA we stop in Burbank and spend time with Shawna and Mick and their adorable boys.

 

Shawna who stole my heart in 1974 still has it today, she is a tender and understanding mother and wife, who gave up a career with Ann Taylor to be with her boys. She is thoroughly appreciated by her husband and 2 sons. Her boys are young and she home schools them. They are smart and inquisitive boys who are allowed to explore and to be themselves. Mick is the voice of Kung Fu Panda for the Saturday morning cartoons series and a very busy voice over teacher and personailty.

 

Kacey and I have been visiting thru the use of the Internet and trying to arrange to get together. Kacey with 2 partners have their own consulting firm and Microsoft is her client and she has two beautiful teenage daughters and a son in college, and a husband who also has a very busy career in high techville. They invited us to come and stay with them in Redmond WA and to their "cabin" on an island. We planned to go when Shawna and Mick were there, but I got the dates wrong. So it was Hill and I, we just missed the Wingerts! Sadly. 

 

Kacey is an awe inspiring young woman. I did try to talk their girls into coming home with us! We so enjoyed our time in their home! We had incredible gourmet meals, every comfort we could need and best of all we got to spend time with Kacey getting to know her again. The best gift ever!! Thank you to the Lemieux' for the welcome and love we felt in your home!

                                                                Kacey and Hill

I just thought I'd post this picture because it makes me happy!! My little vampire!

The walk of my life...

              This is how I picture me riding off into the sunset, a lime green road made just for me!!

When I first woke up after brain surgery, I couldn't understand what people were saying. Most words were a mystery and I was afraid I now spoke French, but didn't know it. The doctor said the fluid around my brain was disturbed and would take two weeks to settle back into place. I believed him, however I was worried thinking it might not fix itself and I'd be stuck inside my head alone for the rest of my life.

However, on the second Sunday evening after surgery, my good friends Jeff and Julie Boydston came over to give me a blessing. The Boydstons are always there and such a blessing in mine and Hill's lives. As Jeff gave me the blessing, I understood what he was saying!! I understood what Father in Heaven was saying to me... the power of the Priesthood is so dear to me. One of the things I learned in the blessing was the Lord wanted me to be patient and He was working in my life. From that day to today it has become easier each day to talk and to discern what people are saying to me. And I pray everyday thanking my Father for my life and for the return of my mind...

My dear friend Donette came from CA a few days prior to my surgery and stayed for over two weeks. She stayed by my side in the hospital and after I came home. She made it possible for Hill to work. Hill was only able to get the day of surgery off. Hill didn't worry because Donette stayed with me through everything. In fact she was with me when the doctor took out the stitches, she kept my spirits up while I was fretting. Hill was so grateful for Donette and couldn't thank her enough, and neither could I!!

During my surgery the Boydston's and Donette stayed with Hill. Shelby Boydston came to keep Hill's spirits up. He kept them all in high spirits and kept them laughing, just as I asked him to do!! He is such an awesome young man!! I taught him in Primary 3 times in his life. He is one of my adopted sons, and he and Hill are sister and brother and love each other!! He is a young man now, one I am proud to know and a man you can count on, I an honored to have been one of the people who taught him the gospel. He and his family are our family forever.

I want to thank all of my family and friends for their prayers and support through this trial... I truly couldn't have made it without you all. I do not know why I have been so blessed with all of you, but I am certain you are all angels on earth!!   Thank you Father in Heaven for my life once again!!

MRI or not ...

             An MRI machine is not very big? who knew?

Yesterday I was supposed to have an MRI, after being poked and prodded all afternoon. I apparently am claustrophobic...I couldn't do it. When they closed the cage over my face and slide me into the tube I got panicky. I asked her to take me back out!! She said it was a common occurrence and not to worry, but I did worry and I felt really bad, like I was going to get in trouble... I'm 56 not 6!! lol

Thank goodness the doctor is willing to put me a sleep prior to surgery and do it just before surgery Friday! What a relief!! Thank you Dr. Spetzler!!

Mom's Famous Potato Soup

My mom's famous soup recipe.
In a pan melt a stick of butter on medium and sweat a whole yellow onion to soften, you don't want any color on the onion. Cube 6-8 potatoes and add to pan. Salt and pepper to taste and add water to cover the potatoes, kick up the heat. When potatoes are fork tender add a can of condensed milk. Add the drop dumplings into the boiling soup, while stirring the pot in a circular motion. Dumpling ingredients: 2 cups flour, salt and pepper to your taste and 4 eggs. Do not mix too much as they will get tough, all the flour doesn't have to incorporated as it will work as a thickener, but most of it should be. You just make them all sizes and just drop them off the spoon or with your hand. The dumplings will rise to the top in minutes. Then the soup is done. We usually let it cool just a bit before eating,

Yes Arnold I do have a Toomer!! lol

Well, next Friday I will have surgery, performed by this man. If you think about it, it's kind of wierd to meet someone once and decide what he is telling you is in your best interests. But that is what happened. Tuesday we had an appointment with Dr. Spetzler and he stated my tumor has to come out. No ifs, ands or buts... he stated if it didn't I would lose my ability to speak soon. Now I know there are a few Home/Visiting teachers who might say that was poetic justice, after I had talked their ears off!! He told me I could get a second opinion, but I said I had prayed about it and knew he was the doctor for me. He said he was glad I'd gone to the "Boss". So the good news is, the tumor is not actually in my brain, it is in the fluid around my brain, is quite large and is pushing my brain around. Dr. Spetzler stated it is most likely benign and I have probably had it for a long time. So that is the update I promised... Before my surgery I just want to tell everyone I love them, and that means you! And to thank you all for your prayers and good wishes!! I'll see you on the flip side!! Love, Robin

Robert F. Spetzler, MD, FACS
Director, Barrow Neurological Institute
J. N. Harber Chair of Neurological Surgery
Chair, Division of Neurological Surgery
Director, Neurological Research

Dr. Robert Spetzler is a world-renowned neurosurgeon who specializes in cerebrovascular disease and skull base tumors. He has been involved in pioneering the technique of hypothermia and cardiac arrest for the treatment of difficult brain lesions. He has been honored many times by professional societies, including the American College of Surgeons and the Congress of Neurological Surgeons. In 1994 Dr. Spetzler was chosen to be the Honored Guest of Congress of Neurological Surgeons. At age 49 he was the youngest recipient of this prestigious honor.

Dr. Spetzler was born in Stierhoefstetten, Germany, and moved to the United States at the age of 11. He received his Bachelor of Science degree from Knox College in Galesburg, Illinois, and his MD from Northwestern Medical School, Chicago, Illinois. His postgraduate training was completed at Wesley Memorial Hospital–Northwestern in Chicago, Illinois. He completed a residency in neurosurgery at the University of California, San Francisco. He received board certification in September 1979 from the American Board of Neurological Surgery.

In 1983 Dr. Spetzler left his position as Associate Professor of Neurosurgery at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine in Cleveland, Ohio, to assume the Chair in the Division of Neurological Surgery at Barrow. He has been the Director of Barrow since 1986. He is also a Professor of Surgery, Section of Neurosurgery, at University of Arizona College of Medicine in Tucson, Arizona.

Dr. Spetzler has published more than 300 articles and 180 book chapters in the neuroscience literature. He has co-edited a number of neurosurgical textbooks, including the Color Atlas of Microneurosurgery. He is on the review board of several neuroscience journals and is Editor-in-Chief of the Barrow Quarterly and Skull Base: An Interdisciplinary Approach.

Yes, we moved to Arizona???

                No this is not Chicago, this is Tempe Arizona!

Anyone who knows me, knows I hate hot weather. So you may ask, "Why did you and Hill move to Arizona??" That sir is a good question...

Most of you know Hillary served a mission for our church here in Mesa AZ, Spanish speaking. And she has been home a little over a year. Since returning home we have experienced some very traumatic events in our lives. Maybe I should make a list?

1. First week home my Aunt Evelyn passed away. She had an aneurysm in the doctors office and never regained consciousness. She is still sorely missed.

2. In that same week my mother was hospitalized, and this has been ongoing from that time. She is continually in and out of the hospital and the ER. She was finally diagnosed as having Alzheimer's.

3. In July just after Hill got home I was diagnosed with Uterine Cancer. In August of 2011 I had surgery in Sacramento CA. I was very blessed as the cancer was caught early and didn't require chemo nor radiation. However, during my surgery I was infected with E coli, and was readmitted to the hospital in Fresno a week later. I spent another week in the hospital and ended up having a systemic reaction to a drug they were using and had a red welt over most of my body when I was released. I had to have my incision cut open and left open to heal from the inside out. Hill had to pack my wound twice a day for 9 months. And there were  other things she had to do for me, like cover my entire body with a serum twice a day as well...and the list goes on, there really was no dignity left.

4. On Thanksgiving day Hill's father was found in his home, he had passed away. There was a lot of issues regarding this that Hill as his child had to take care of, from paying for his funeral to shutting down his business. It was really a very traumatic time. The only blessing in this was, Hill and her father were in a good place in their relationship. Something I encouraged and was very happy about. Even he and I were in a good place, I had forgiven him and actually had dinner with him with Hill the Friday before his death.

5. Hill is almost finished with her Biology degree, and prior to leaving on her mission had been excepted to Fresno States program and had an internship. However when she returned the state budget had been cut and she could not get the classes she needed to complete her degree in Fresno.

So back to our story.

Hillary got a pretty good job in Fresno which was a great blessing to us, and also a stumbling block to her progression. She received some really good training as an Optician. She also worked with people she loved. But she did not want to be doing this work when she was 50, and never complete her degree. So she and I spent a good deal of time weighing the Pro's and Con's of moving to complete her education somewhere other than Fresno. We then took our decision to the Lord and knew without a doubt we needed to move so she could complete her degree.

Being Latter Day Saints we just thought BYU in Provo. We have many friends there and would love to live close to Salt Lake City and be able to attend Conference on a regular basis. We had our life in Provo planned. We were going to live with a dearly beloved cousin and our home would be a meeting place for "Card Nights" and "Movie Nights" and Sunday dinners with family and friends!! Doesn't that sound like a life anyone would be looking forward too? We were really looking forward to it!!!

But after a month of trying to find a place to live in Provo and having no luck, Hillary was distraught. As the time to move grew closer and we had no where to live Hill was starting to second guess the answer we had received when we prayed. This is how the adversary works, he tries to undermine what you know when everything doesn't fall right into place easily. I told her God had let us know the decision to move was a good one, and that He would provide a place for us.

A friend kept telling Hill she needed to attend ASU in Arizona. I kept saying "No" we are moving to Provo! The same friend made her promise to look up ASU online and then decide. Man was I out numbered on this one!! She did keep her promise and looked ASU up and it was like a light lit up her face. I could see she was excited at the opportunities ASU offered her. My heart was sinking, I hate the heat...ASU offers 10 majors in the field of biology, and there are 7 majors for the next year and internships galore. One internship is in Ecuador and she is Spanish speaking. I knew I was doomed at that point. But before we made such a big decision as to change where we were moving 3 days before we moved, we knew we had to take our decision to the Lord and ask him if this is where He would have us go. I was still holding out hope for Provo. Upon the end of a long session of prayer where Hill was voice and I was voice it was very clear we were to move to Mesa AZ. I petulantly said, "No Provo." Well, when we got to AZ we actually settled in Tempe which is where ASU is located.

Usually in your life when you make a life changing decision, it may be years before you see the Lord's hand in your new circumstances. In this instances we saw two very significant signs that we had made the right decision.

The second week we were in AZ I woke up to a very swollen face, I in fact looked like a very Cute Old Gargoyle, my nickname to a few Missionaries and Hill. After an early morning call to Kaiser my health insurance company, they told me to go to an urgent care for treatment. So by 8:30 am I was in an urgent care and had seen a doctor who had determined it was an infection possibly in my sinus or from a tooth. He didn't feel comfortable just giving me antibiotics so he ordered a CT scan. In a matter of minutes I had been given a shot in my backside and three prescriptions, yes right there in the urgent care. I didn't have to go to a pharmacy, what a concept!! So by 10:00 am I had seen a doctor and was in the process of having a CT scan. By 11:30 am the doctor called me to say, "the infection would be cleared up by the antibiotics he had given me, and oh by way there was a secondary finding you have a brain tumor." The doctor called me 4 times that day to give me recommendations for Neurosurgeons. So if I had been home Kaiser would have just sent me home with antibiotics and been done with it. So now I have changed insurance and will soon be seeing a Neurosurgeon, I'll update you when I know more.

And the second item that says to us, "You are where the Lord would have you be", is Hill got a job with an eye care corporation in the second week of being here also. She started yesterday and she was offered a promotion the same day she began!! More money and she loves the work. She will also have insurance in 3 months and other benefits.

So I know we are where we are supposed to be for now and we are praying for all whom we left behind to come visit us soon!!!