Star Scout

Garrett is quickly progressing through his scouting ranks. This last week he was awarded his Star rank as well as 6 other merit badges. This is really so very foreign to me, coming from a family of all girls. However, I am quickly learning the lingo and the processes of scouts. Luckily, Garrett is very self motivated and I do not have to do much to push him along. It also helps that his dad is the scout master and is SOOO on top of where Garrett is and what he needs to be working on. Russ gets Garrett books from the library to learn about certain things pertaining to a merit badge, then Garrett actually sits down and studies them. I don't have to do anything except wash his uniform. I feel guilty whenever I receive a mother's pin, because truth be told... Garrett does all of the work and Russ gives the little encouraging that is needed.

a HEARTY life

I had absolutely, without a doubt, one of the most incredible experiences of my life on Monday. I was invited in with the thoracic surgeons to observe them as they performed an open heart (coronary bypass graft x 4) surgery. I was positioned on a stool at the head of the patient, looking straight down on his chest. I watched as the P.A. pulled the vein from the patients thigh to be used for the bypasses. I watched as he carefully prepared the vein, sealing off areas where branched areteries were cut off. I watched my favorite heart surgeon, Dr. Millar, make an incision down the length of the chest and then proceed to saw the patient's sternum in half... wow! Next, he very carefully cut through the pericardium, cranked open the rib cage a little wider, and there it sat... A BEATING HEART. It was so amazing. I also saw the left lung filling with air and deflating over and over again. I will not go into details for those who have weak stomachs, but let me just tell you... it was AMAZING! The surgeons were fantastic. Their hands were so steady and they were so sweet to me. They made sure I could see and explained every part of the procedure to me. I was so excited all day. Poor Russ had to listen to me all night as I described for him every detail of the operation to him.
The best part of the experience happened this morning. 18 hours after surgery, I was able to get the patient up and walking as I transferred him from ICU over to CVU. He was the kindest man I have ever met. As I got him into bed over in CVU, I told him that I had been in his surgery and thanked him for giving his consent so I could be in there. He said to me, "Oh, were you the one that got to see the surgery?". I told him that I was and what a great experience it was for me. He told me that if it helped me in my job, and if it was a learning experience for me he was thrilled to be apart of it. I told him he had a beautiful heart. Then he told me that he and his wife are going to celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary in October, and that she is what keeps his heart beautiful. It wasn't mushy the way he stated it. You could tell that he was very genuine and truly loved and respected her.
Anyway, I was so grateful for that opportunity. I now know that is a surgery I NEVER want to have. I am going to eat right and exercise everyday so that I don't end up in that operating room again... as the patient. The human body is absolutely amazing. There is no doubt that we were created by divine hands. We truly are walking miracles.

What did you do this summer?

Summer is exhausting! I always loved summer vacation as a kid. I liked not having a schedule, sleeping in, staying up late, vacations to the beach and EFY, playing with friends, etc. But I was always ready for school to begin again in the fall. Because truth be told, I loved having a schedule, seeing my friends everyday, getting up early, playing sports, etc.

Things have changed a little. I was anxious for school to be out. I was anxious not to have to wake my kids up at 6:30 every morning. I was anxious for them to be able to play with friends and not have a huge schedule each day. I am not sure what happened, but summer came and left and we never really had a break! I am not ready for school to begin again. What happened to sleeping in? What happened to watching cartoons so much that you have seen every episode at least 15 times? What happened to getting so bored of hanging out with friends that you couldn't wait to do math again (yuck).

Well when school begins again in 10 days and teachers and classmates ask the infamous question, "What did you do this summer?", my kids had better not answer, "nothing". I am going to re-cap our summer quickly to help them remember just exactly what we did do. In June we traveled to Cedar City, Kanab, and Richfield for baseball tournaments.

The first week in July we were in Park City for a baseball tournament, Allie's baptism, and a Little family reunion.

Then it was back up to Cedar City for Grant's All-Star baseball games. The next week Russ and Garrett were at scout camp. That is the longest I have ever been away from Garrett. They were back for only 4 days before Russ and the boys (Garrett, Grant, and uncle Chris) left for Yellowstone. They just got home last Sunday.

This weekend we were back up in Cedar City for the LAST baseball tournament of the season. Then this next weekend we have the Hyde family reunion (thank heaven it is in St. George and we will not be travelling too far, just to the lake!). School will begin three days later. Our lives are busy, but I wouldn't have it any other way! We are very blessed and lucky to have healthy kids, and stable jobs that allow us to have the experiences that we do.

Bitter Sweet

Baseball is officially over! It has been a really long- like 8 months long- sport season. We are happy and sad. The boys both had great experiences this year. Garrett was able to really improve as the season progressed. He was the new man this year on a team that has played together for three years. I think he struggled at first to really feel like he was a part of the team. But now he is just one of the boys and made some great friends. We learned this season that Garrett is FAST. He struggled with several different things throughout the season, but never with stealing. He is amazing to watch on the bases. He takes a HUGE lead off and loves to taunt those pitchers. Stealing bases is definitely his biggest contribution to the team. His coaches always look to Russ or I after he steals a base to say, "Man, he's fast".Russ and I learned a lot this season. Russ can now throw several different pitches (curve, change-up, four seam and two seam fast balls, etc.), is an expert in bat sizes, and now knows that baseball is almost as expensive as fly-fishing. I learned the baseball lingo, about tournament rules, and how to get red dirt out of white pants with navy blue piping down the sides that prevents the use of bleach!Grant was the youngest player is his league, yet did really well. He played with boys that were 10, 11, and 12. He had the opportunity to pitch, play short-stop and third base, and gained a lot of confidence. He was chosen to play on the 10 year old All-Star team. He was very excited. Grant is an amazing kid. He is so positive, always happy, and truly loves life. We were thrilled that he was able to have the All-star experience (even though he was out of baseball mode). His baseball season had ended in May, and we didn't find out he was playing all-stars until July! The best part was he got two cool new shirts, a new baseball hat, and little more experience.

We are a happy family...

as BLIND as a bat

Funny story:

Today Russ and Brent got up at 4:00 a.m. to drive to Page, AZ. Russ had to complete an audit/inventory and wanted to introduce Brent to some contacts at the hospital there. When they finished the inventory they began the long drive home. By the time they got to Kanab, Russ was beginning to feel a little sleepy. They decided to stop and get some snacks, walk around for a minute, and use the restroom. As Russ was standing at the urinal taking care of some business, a blind man entered the restroom using his walking stick. He came and stood behind Russ, a little closer than Russ would have liked... but he was blind... so Russ let it slide. That is until he felt a WARM, WET, STREAM running down the back of his leg. Yes, the blind man thought Russ was the urinal. Russ shoved the poor blind man and told him, "You're pissing all over me!" The blind man was very embarassed and apologized over and over again. Poor guy! The funniest part of the story is when Russ came out of the bathroom Brent asked him what was wrong. He told Brent what had happened and the two lady cashiers behind the counter over-heard and started laughing. The one lady came out from behind the counter and proceeded to spray Russ down with Lysol. Luckily Russ had an extra pair of pants in his car and was able to change. He took a shower as soon as he walked through the door... can't imagine why he'd want to do that! Russ said to me, "I don't know why that guy was using a urinal. Our boys can't make it in those, and they can see! He needs to just sit down on the can!" So, there is a good piece of advice: If you lose your sight, sit on the can... or, don't pee on the man in front of you.

Although the picture above was taken in the ocean, I imagine that is what Russ looked like this afternoon!

I can't BEAR it

Grant is progressing right along in scouts. In March he earned his Bear. Due to baseball and pack meetings conflicting, he wasn't presented his award until this week. He has advanced to the Weeblos group and has already earned his fitness award. Good job Grant. You are amazing!