Update

We have been through all of Leah's appointments.  Doctors are not to concerned about her cyst.  The way it looks they think she has had it if not always, but for years.  It is contained and not growing.  So we were on to the next problem.  End result is that she is very flexible, which means lose muscles, and she has high knee caps.  They sit about 3/4 higher than most people's.  This makes it hard for the  muscles to hold them in place and then add in the loose muscles and she has extreme movement and pain.  So we are doing physiotherapy.  LOTS of physio to hopefully strengthen it all up and hold the knee cap straight. Leah will need to do this probably forever. But no surgery and she has been given the go ahead for basketball, just in time to start tomorrow.

Cora has been offered a job at Chapters.  It is seasonal part-time and will end in January.  Then just a few days after she was offered a job at Olive Garden.  They said they did not have much and it would be part-time or less until January.  They are willing to work with her schedule at Chapters.  We are feeling blessed at how well it turned out and are very thankful.  My mom told Cora to not be to discouraged, maybe the Lord was giving her time to go to lots of activities and meet lots of people before she got busy working.  Last night, Cora said she thinks Grandma Smith was right.

We have had a fun last couple of weeks.  Abby returned from her mission in New Zealand.  On the Friday we went to drop in baptisms with Emily, and then headed out to my parents.

Saturday was their Super Saturday.  The theme was 'Love in a Jar'.  Of course everyone knows I am all about jars.  There were crafts, pie, salad, soap, and more.  All in a jar.  It was a really fun day.

Sunday Abby reported and gave a fabulous talk.  Cora was sad to miss it, but was not able to come down again.

Blake has wrapped up volleyball for the year.  The kid definitely has some talent in volleyball and I think we have convinced him to go up to the high school to try and play next year.  Great serves.

Levi invited Leah to come back to their stake dance last week.  It was held at the Barn Dance. She had already decided not to attend her's this month, so said sure.  She had the best time ever.  Got to know lots of people and made new friends.  Every so often, Levi would check back in with her and make sure she had someone to dance with and she was doing good.  She totally loved it.

We have had some very crazy winds the last few weeks.  The last one our little shed just could not take the beating any more.  We spent Saturday doing some clean up around the farm and our house. Leah went up to watch some friends play a volleyball game and then more clean up.

Dave's new calling as Stake YM president is going well.  Every meeting he is enjoying his councilors more and more.  They have lots of stuff coming up, including a 5 stake priest/laurel conference that they are in charge of.  This calling for sure takes up way more of his time.  He is gone a ton, but he makes time for his kids sports and the important things.  To be there for all of us.  He is a good man and handles it all well. Dave had a great teacher in his dad and has had lots of experience in YM's already.  He is going to be great in this calling.

Catch Up

Blake and Dave were so excited to finally get to attend the Priesthood Session together.  Waited 12 years for that. :)

There was a fundraiser for Blake's school to buy apples.  When ours came in we set up an apple pie making assembly line. We made 4 to freeze.  Did some apple sauce and have enjoyed many fresh apples.  Blake loves to peel apples on our peeler.

Leah made a beautiful pie.

One night before the football game, we had stopped by Toone's house for awhile.  Dave had a meeting at the church so we went to hang out.  Natalie did an impromptu photo shoot with Leah and Emily.  She is so good at taking photos.  These turned out so cute.

What cute cute girls.

Over the weekend, Dave set up a car washing station for the kids to get all our cars through.  It was a little cold, but they got them all done.  Cora was on the vacuum side of things, but I don't know what happened to that picture.

Wednesday night, Dave took Leah and Blake to the Imagine Dragons Concert.  It was Blake's first concert and it did not disappoint. He totally loved it.  They got home at 1:30 am. Leah did very well and was up on time for seminary the next morning.  Or really the same morning.

Friday Leah and I took off early to get her bone scan done. I was hoping to not have to take her out of school.  But then I was told it was a 4 hour appointment.  Turns out it was actually 4 1/2.  First they injected her with radio active fluid.  Then they took a few images as they watched it flow through her blood stream.  We then waited 2 hours for it to get moving everywhere in her body.  A few 30 min scans.  Leah said they strapped down her arms and tied her legs together.  Next they push this round cold scan thing right next to her face.  Once they are sure she could not move, the round scanner started moving.  It went up and down her body a few times, then spun as it went up and down, then her bed moved as it spun.  The first thing she said to me was, 'Mom, you would have never have been able to do that.  You would have been claustrophobic and got motion sickness.'  Lastly the did one final x-ray and we were able to go home.

Next week we meet with an orthopedic surgeon.  I am glad they are doing both knees at the same time with all these tests.  We were worried that we would get all done then start the process anew with the other one.  We have talked to all her teachers about missing so much school, they all seem pretty understanding and will be helpful in keeping her up to date.  Now we just wait to see what the next step is. 

Happy 18th Birthday

Cora came home again the weekend before her birthday.  It was Thanksgiving weekend.  It was a little weird not to have a big family get together, but we had fun anyways.  Since we knew we would not get to see her on her birthday we turned it into her birthday weekend instead.  My parents wanted to see Cora and came up to spent Saturday evening with us.  We had dinner and talked.  It was also our fast Sunday, so we ate a little early.  Sunday we had Myrna over and had a simple chicken dinner.  But a must for Cora's birthday was Angel Food Cake.

She had a few presents to open and we played lots of games all weekend.  Cora beat us at Clue a few times and nobody will ever beat Leah at Dutch Blitz.  It was a very fun, laughter, game, good food, filled weekend.  Cora's actual birthday was Thursday.  We called her and chatted that day.  It was a bit sad to not see her on her birthday.  But she got lots of nice birthday wishes from friends up there and family.

Cora is such a special girl.  We miss having her here all the time, but talk to her often.  She is still hard at work looking for a job.  Meeting lots of fun people and getting involved with everything she can.  Cora has even joined a swing dance class.  She is doing gymnastics, mission prep, and a church history class.  Absolutely loves both of the institute classes.  Cora and Maycie go on some fun adventures and are making the most of adulting.  She is doing great out on her own.  Happy 18th Birthday Cora!!

Pictures 2017

Cora came home for conference weekend.  She was going to come home Friday afternoon, but she ended up having a date and made it Saturday just after the second session started.  We had moved cows in the morning.  It went fairly well.  The last cow walked in the field at 9:42.  Perfect for a quick shower and ready for conference. This year we enjoyed watching the World Report as well.  We were all so excited to see Cora.  We watched the second session then just sat and talked as she told us story after story.  Sunday we went into the church and then changed and took a few pictures.  It was pretty cold for T-shirts, but I did not know when we would have another chance.  Cora has been working on editing a few for me.  The ones she has done look great.

It was very snowy Monday.  I was glad Cora was not travelling back that day.  Leah ended up waiting at the school for just over and hour.  Her bus was not running and I couldn't get up with my little car.  She got a ride home with Jared.  They both said it was a bit scary out.  By Tuesday at noon, everything had melted and Cora headed back.  It was great to see her and I was very glad I got some pictures.

Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome..... or perhaps not???

As everyone knows, Leah has some fun knee issues.  About three years ago we finally took her to a doctor to see what could be done.  At the time is was just her right knee.  We were informed that it was basically weak muscles under the knee cap.  Very common in teenage girls that grow fast and are active.  She was given a few exercises to do to strengthen the muscles and told that she would eventually grow out of it.  Fast forward 3 years, a lot of Advil, many knee braces (now for both knees) and 3 basketball seasons.  Last week the pain was so intense that I actually took her out of school and to a walk in clinic.  Here we finally got an x-ray.  We were then told that what Leah has is Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome.  It is just something that she was born with and will get to deal with for the rest of her life.  With very aggressive physio she can possibly keep the pain at bay.  She will always need her knee braces for sports, but with the physio she will hopefully still have knee function when she is 40.  A few days later the doctor called me back and said that after taking a closer look at the x-ray, they have discovered a cyst on her femur bone, just above the knee cap.  They think she still has the other, but we can not do physio yet.  The doctor was very concerned about the cyst popping.  Leah is being referred to an orthopedic surgeon at the Children's Hospital and we will go from there.  She is supposed to be on modified gym class and be careful.  So now we sit and wait.  Leah is concerned about basketball season starting soon and what will happen.  Dave and I are just glad that we finally seem to be starting to move forward.  A specialist to see her knees will be able to go more in-depth, and hopefully we will get some answers and some solutions.