Happy Spring to Ya All!

Has been a month since I posted, so hoping someone in the family would do it to get some spice in this but no one is a taker!

Much going on in our little world. Sadie graduates on Thurs. she is the Valedictorian of her department, she graduates in Anthropology! Then packs up her car and takes off for Denver working with Luke helping to manage parking garages. Danny takes off for Brasil the first of May till Aug. Sam has his final Eagle board tomorrow night. Jim's moose is ready and will be hung on the "DEAD HEAD WALL" in the Great Room. I will change where I eat at the dinner table so I don't look at what I am eating. Didn't think they'd be hung so no worries, but it is my fault gave them permission if I got my perfect kitchen! Jim got a Turkey on Sat. Scott got 2 Turkey! Hope these don't get freezer burnt as the last two did and have to be thrown away. Plans to smoke one next week. And we all were so good at quiting the habit.

I have been quilting up a storm, got 3 pieced together in 6 weeks time and took a vacation for 11 days in the middle. I love doing Log Cabin but will soon stretch to learn a new one. My girfriend quilts them on her big time machine so save my fingers from carpel tunnel! On a roll for Christmas gifts....

Spring Break was a blast, we went to Maui for 11 days. The Humpback whales were still there visiting, delivering their young and match making. We saw some beautiful match making dancing. Saw my nephew Matt that works and lives in Maui! Took a 8 hour boat ride, I was sick 7 of the hours. Left the fish plenty of food. Snorkeled a few times and even got sea sick snorkling. Would of been nice to just have a 3 hour cruise and ended up on our own island with evening wear, food and friends like Gilligan and Co. did! I did play Mary Ann in our class assembly back in High school tho! Sam started track and has his second meet tonight. The weather was wonderful for his first and hope it is for the one tonight.

So if all goes well with Sam's Eagle Board I will be the proud mother of 6 Eagle Scouts. Getting those 6 boys finished up was just a few steps down from having a child with a life threating disease. I so hope other towns Scout offices are better suited at scouting than ours. Just watch now the church will stop the scouting program just as we finished!

Gpa Lee has been sick with pneumonia and just got out of the hospital yesterday. He is looking better but still coughing allot. We are just happy we have him a bit longer, he will be 86 in June, Gma Helen turns 87 next week. She is a ball of energy.

We have the missionaries moving in for a couple weeks starting tomorrow. No one seems to want to house them in the ward since the change happened. We will guilt someone into it that has no children at home and no daughters. We do need the blessing for now tho. Benji will be home this week for a few days and we got two new fish so the house will be full of noise again and people eating all my food..........

We have mowed twice already, got my flowers bought and ready to go into my hanging baskets!

So Happy Spring to ya All!

Live it up!

Spring spring spring! Love love love it! The bulbs are up, peaking up thru that gray blah soil giving it color. The sunshines lots of hours and the sky is blue. I know we needed snow but so love not having winter this year.

Hope you all had a great St Patty's day! We had a green supper and made lots of yummy cookies.........

Not much different going on with the fam, so just a few boring updates! We ordered new doctor, & assistant chairs for the office in Salt Lake at the dental convention, along with warm patient towels. Now just wish we had new windows, flooring to match. I had to buy 6 new choir chairs, a choir member broke another chair and really dinged my new floor bad bad so those wedding chairs will only be used OUTSIDE! Scott made it to Boise and home again last weekend for DECA, he doesn't like that city, he missed Uncle Steve's "Hunters Party". Sam is enjoying not having to do a sport everyday after school and enjoying playing outside, riding bikes and learning about old cars and how to get them running with his friend Matt. Maybe Matt can get the 72 pickup running! So hate it setting in the front yard. Sam got his phone taken away until he has every stupid last piece of paper work done to turn in his Eagle packet......project was done Aug 1st. He is now 1/2 in taller than his father. Sarah will now be the shortest in the family. He has the normal Lee boy figure tho, Scott doesn't something in his favor when his younger brother will soon be taller. It seems he has more doctor appointments than he has the last year. Trying to figure out some rash and hoping his white blood count remains normal. His osteoporosis is in the normal range now. He is happy and is off the last medication this week, has been 3 months since the end of treatment. Now just vitamins and calcium. Nothing new with Josh. Luke and family are good. Benji will be home for a couple weeks to finish up some projects and take care of the animals while we are on our spring break trip. Sarah and fam are great Carson is talking allot, really developing a personality. Kyla is the queen of the world especially when she is at gma's. Danny is headed to Brasil in a few weeks for an internship. Sadie is preparing for graduation. Jim is good, planning on hitting the "Big Horn Show" the next 3 days in Spokane. Paula is good since the tax info is into the accountant, first time in years we won't have to file an extension. Busy sewing quilts again and spent a few days at a Quilting retreat and had a blast with her side kick Karel. Bucky our cocker spaniel is getting better still loving tearing up things in the yard tho. Ms Kitty is queen of the house when Kyla isn't here. The fish are good, I got a new tiny one that eats algae but "Professor" must of taken a big gulp and swallowed him because he is gone and not floating. Fish are so much easier to take care of than dogs, cats and kids!

So "Go live it up" as Dalton Garrett told us to do for years!

Lee's

New Post

Ok so I am not a very exciting title/post person so this one is "New Post" blah I know.

Spring continues here in God's country. I purchased 6 blueberry bushes to put in, with the sunshine it seems like April, and that "gardening bug "has hit. Well in the mind mostly.

Yesterday was a clinic day. Scott had a bone density test and his osteoporosis is in the normal range so it truly can be reversed and a great blessing. His blood work looked good, his first one out of chemo was a bit scary but good now. She is testing it every two weeks for awhile on him.

We had Booboo and Butters while Sarah and Dan got to take a working free vacation to Vegas but first we went to CO for the weekend to visit the other grandbabies, I hugged and kissed Sawyer so much we now share the family cold. I picked up the other two in Spokane coming home from the airport then took them back to Spokane on Wed and flew out to SLC with Jim to dental meetings. We spent Wed and Thurs nights in SLC attending meetings then Friday the college coed and her brother come up to eat at "The Roof" to celebrate her birthday then spend the next two nights with Don and D'anne. Pen and Ben, Don and D'anne, Sadie, Dan, Jim and I went out to eat where my nephew John Boy works and spent Sat evening talking and laughing and celebrating yet another birthday celebration for our spoiled but cute daughter and nearly COLLEGE GRADUATE! So fun to be with my family I miss my siblings allot and their families. I told Sadie we are done with her birthday celebration for another year!

Danny is going back to Brasil in May for an internship so he won't graduate till next December. Looks like they both will leave without true love from the university. It takes my children time to find the perfect one, marriage is for eternity so take your time chillins! Well, for some of you it is ok..... you now can date, hold hands and EVEN marry!

Spring break is around the corner, Scott only has two left! After having a search in for a year and not getting what we wanted I spent days looking at discounted places and flights till my head and finger tips are blistered. We finally have a trip! It is a fun time we spend with the kids each year that are still at home, and in school. Danny did work it out to meet us in Mexico a couple years ago. Money is tight but squeaking money out of our savings is always worth it. We can live on our food storage!

No new updates on Josh, Big D 3 times a week 4.5 hours each time.

Spending time working on family search and attending the temple, something I didn't think I'd get to do till I was an old lady, (NO I'M NOT NO I'M NOT) I am going on a Quilting retreat soon, will be good to just work on projects and not get interrupted for 3 wonderful days! Plugging along on getting paperwork figured out for taxes, something I so hate to do.

So enjoy your time with your family and friends, each day is so unsure, the only sure thing is we can be together forever with our Savior and family if we live right, any of us can be taken any second, any time.

So I love you guys whomever is reading this!

Today's Message of the Day is:

Life is short, Break the rules, Forgive quickly, Kiss slowly, Love truly, Laugh uncontrollably, And never regret anything that made you smile... (from a email I received)

Slow days of Winter!

Has been a month plus since the last post. Not much happening in the family, and that is a good thing. Benjamin has gone back to CA, Sadie and Danny back at school, my mom back home and I so love the quiet days alone 4 days a week. I so love Monday mornings.

We are heading out to CO to visit the other grand babies and Luke and Janna for the long weekend. Then next week Jim and I going to SLC for dental meetings and spend the weekend with the college kids.

Scott had his first non chemo appointment 2 weeks ago and labs but has to return tomorrow for more labs making sure his ANC is going up. His doctor and all his nurses sang a song for him and gave him a basket of huge cookies to end his treatments, it was so sweet. He has broken out with a bad rash since he has been off treatment so they want to keep up on it and we keep trying lots of different medicine and nothing is helping. This is the easy stuff tho. Being a red head doesn't help.

Scott and Sam's two friends, and also brothers have both been in the hospital the last 3 weeks one with a staff infection in his shoulder and 2 days after he got out of the hospital the other brother got strep throat and had kidney issues. Heavenly Father so blesses us with these trials with our children.........we just don't see them as such for awhile.

Our Josh turned 33 on Sunday and Sadie 23 tomorrow. I can't believe I am old enough to have a 33 yr old son. Josh and Chiu-yi are doing fine, just hoping and praying for a kidney miracle.

We have had the warmest winter on record so far, last year we set records in the snow fall. It has given everyone spring fever, looks like the tulips will be popping up their heads any second.

I bought a basket full of tulips & primroses for the house just so it looks like spring inside. I really wouldn't mind a good snow storm tho to cover up the ugly grass.

So life is good for the Lee's, it is a great time of our lives enjoying watching Sam play basketball and being able to eat nearly every dinner together. Not many conflicts in the schedule anymore. Life is slower and we are truly blessed. Jim turned 57 last week so good to have things slow down a bit.

I cry the day I take the tree down! Except this year it was really DEAD!

The holidays are over, company is gone, tree outside ready to be burned, and decorations put away. And back to only feeding 5! Tomorrow is Monday! School begins and work!!!!! It has been a great month but very long.

My mom was here almost 6 weeks, she was very ready to hit the road yesterday and be able to be in her own four walls. We enjoyed her, sad to see her memory escaping tho, so sad. She stayed busy crocheting things for people and reading and asking us questions we'd just answered. She got to enjoy Kyla and Carson and help babysit them. Kyla will always be in her heart they really got along. Kyla's middle name is Joy after her mom and grandma. I want to add Joy to my name some day. Wish my dad would of given it to me years ago.

Jim and I head out the end of the week to celebrate 34 years together. I will need a vacation from all this vacation......We hope to not get sunburned and when we are asked what we are going to do in the Bahama's I say "WHATEVER WE WANT"......

Sadie wrote a wonderful tribute to her brother Scott last week, if you are interested in reading it get a kleenex and visit her blog http://sadiesstory.blogspot.com/ I won't post it on this blog since that is a very big big big pet peeve of hers! She is so talented in many areas but her writing is incredible. Her brain never stops. I am so proud of her.

Happy 2010

A Wonderful Christmas....

Yep, port came out yesterday! Scottie Pottie is no longer a cancer patient. Once a month labs for a year, 2nd year every 3 months, 3rd year every 6 months and not sure after that. He will get to go on a mission but will need to be state side because of the labs. Having his port out was a bit stressful yesterday more so for his father that worries more than anyone on planet earth. When Dr Thorn his wonderful surgeon came into the waiting room with his thumb up, Jim I can broke into a cry/laugh. Different things can happen with that port being in there so long but it came out perfect. We got booklets to help us with the transition learning how to go from a oncologist full time to a regular MD but I seem to know more about ALL than he, but he is learning. (MD) But the oncologist will still see him while doing labs once a month and I can talk to her personal nurse Mary 24/7, she promised me. I have grown to love those two ladies Dr Angelia Trobaugh and Mary and all the others in the clinic. I so appreciate them not only for their years of schooling and practicing but they actually care, really really care for Scottie and for me. I so appreciate our 3 pharmacists at the CDA Kmart store. They made the insurance and the /Katy Beckett medicaid process actually easy. Costco was horrible and I told them I wouldn't spend one more cent on medicine at their pharmacy and I haven't. (The store a different story) Teena Roberts, Sara McLain and Paula Conley at Canfield, Penny at CHS and our wonderful Patty Humphries and her hubby Mark. Jennifer and Mike James along with their sons Josh and Matt were incredible and nearly adopted Sam during our first two years. Mike helping us get passed red tape and also the help he has given us with our own Josh's kidney issues. They all have gone way beyond their jobs to a lasting friendship. And most of all my other children that stepped right in when mom was living at the hospital to deal with the millions of phone calls, prepare food and remind the wonderful church members we didn't need anymore food that they were adults and could prepare the meals and we were out of room in the fridge. It is amazing how people step in, you really know your friends. To my sister in law Jean that also dealt with phone calls, Gpa Lee for his prayers and blessings. And to Kim Beckman that would just drop off frozen lasagna to go right in to my freezer for those long days at the clinic and Julie Crandall and Emily for those wrapped up tight Papa Murphy's pizzas that would appear in my freezer. When people asked what they could do for us I'd say just bring over leftovers so we can freeze them for our long days at the clinic those two heard my plea and a few others, Kim kept it up for months and months and to this day she drops off her wonderful spaghetti sauce if she hears I even have had a bad day as she is dealing with her own daughters horrible health issues. And for those long conversations Angie my YF friend and I continue to have, for Capri and Judy W and those helpful things they learned down their tiny children's cancer struggles. I so appreciate my good husband and putting up with my psycho person many days and letting me handle things my way. I seemed to know what Scottie needed and begged him to listen. And mostly for my Scottie for pulling thru, he is my superman and just putting up with his mother, I so tried not to go over the top with him, and not letting him see me cry, I tried alway to be softly tough. And to you my family and friends just thanks.

Have a wonderful Christmas, I know I will.

Four days then it will all be over, so sad!

I so love Christmas but it is so sad to think it will be over in a few days. Basically things are in order, just taking it easy and trying to enjoy the days. My mom is here still since before Thanksgiving. She is amazed at the gifts under the tree, parties and busyness of our household. It actually is quieter and slower than when we had a few more at home. She will be spoiled this holiday. We hope it takes her hours to unwrapped her gifts. She has been busy making gifts for her grand and great grand kids for several weeks. Jim and I got each other a new tread-mill for our Christmas to each other. Jim got it all set up and walked on it this morning. Hoping we can bury the old one soon.

Scott's last chemo and doctor appointment were last week. He is totally done with the poison but not with labs. He will go in once a month for a year, then every 3 months for a year then twice a year after that. These are no big deal appointments and hope he doesn't have to miss any school. Jim and I threw him a "I am going to live" surprise party last Friday night. He was very shocked and surprised once he figured out why 15 of his friends jumped up from laying on the carpet after I had counted to 3 took him about 10 seconds to understand what was going on. I invited adults that had been such a influence and help for our family the last 3.5 years. Mostly Scotts first year. They showed up a few minutes after the kids surprised him. His two tutors and their husbands came, his councilor Sarah from Canfield Middle school, and many friends and family came to celebrate, about 50. He got the most awesome gifts and I told people to bring silly things but they didn't listen. I had way to much food and the family is still enjoying the leftovers. Benji and Sarah helped me throw together the salads and trays in about 15 minutes time while Danny kept Scott downstairs, at one point Scott came upstairs and didn't get a clue, took a piece of cheese and went back downstairs. I had things hidden in sacks and cupboards and out in the garage for a week, oh and had my trusty list, it saves me. I had a huge cake made. Karel, Rod, Benji and Sarah cleaned up while I was able to just set and visit friends. Then my family helped put down tables and put things away after everyone left. Something I don't get to do because I am preparing and cleaning up for hours then once it is done everyone goes home or to bed because they are exhausted visiting. Thank you thank you that one of the greatest gift anyone has ever done for me. And it only costs time. Jim had to leave to go pick up Sadie in the middle of the party. Danny had flown in a couple days before. Sadie got in on the very tail end. It was a fun night and Scottie seemed to really love it. We both got hugs and a thank you! I even got more hugs yesterday.

Glad you're still alive Scottie Pottie! Mom