Comfort Buddy

Who comes to comfort you when you feel lousy with a headache,

you fall over dizzy when you try to walk,

you sleep for 12 hours a night and then sleep another 4 hours during the day

you can't ice skate,

you can't snowboard,

you can't make it through church,

you can barely do an hour of school,

Your best buddy in the whole world,

Jasper!

Agriscience Fair

Three weeks into this head injury, Victoria's project was entered into the Agriscience Fair at Green Canyon where she takes a Ag Science class and FFA. Her head hurt so bad, they moved her interview up as early as they could. She won first place in the Animal Science division and will be going to the State AgriScience Fair down in Cedar City. Unfortunately due to the Coronavirus, the Competition has been postponed. 

Victoria doesn't remember anything about that day. She was pretty bad off physically that day.

Hogle Zoo

We took a day off from everything when we got word that Victoria was not going to be scheduled for brain surgery and that her headaches and dizziness are from Post-Concussion Syndrome.

This past couple months has been very difficult trying to help her manage a non-stop headache and dizziness. She sleeps so much, day and night. We have all just about had it with trying to adjust life to benefit Victoria's healing. I asked her what would she like to do if we just took a day off.

She wanted to go to the zoo. Okay, it will probably wipe 

her out for a couple days but we could at least try it.

I'm glad it was sunny, all the animals were out basking in the sun.

I made them take a picture together.

I have one of Victoria when she was about 5 years old next to this little otter one time when we came up to SLC visiting Rich in Payson.  I'd love to see that picture but Jasper ate the hard drive that that picture was on a couple years ago. Oh well....

Victoria was saying that she could relate with that bear. She could feel her body getting to it's limit for the day but was so happy to do something "normal" for a change. No doctor appointments, tests or sleeping on the couch. Having a head concussion can be so debilitating.

It was worth spending a few hours at the zoo but she was pretty wiped out for the next couple days.

Victoria's Quilt

Victoria sewed this beautiful quilt before her head injury.

Unfortunately she wasn't able to do all the top stitching, 

so I managed to finish it so she could finish her room. 

It looks beautiful with her blue walls and white furniture.

January Snow

We got plenty of snow this past winter. It's so beautiful with the sun

 shining in the early morning. Everything looks clean and fresh....

and COLD!

We took Jasper for a walk along the upper canal. I love where we live that we can do so many different outdoor activities. It sure beats being cooped up in the house all winter.

This is proof that Kirk and I were really there. 

Kaleb and I are always getting Kirk to come on our adventures, 

though Kaleb is even more adventuresome that I am.

Speaking of adventuresome...Kaleb and Jared went 

on a cross country skiing, backpacking trip.

They are insane!

Jasper

Jasper is the sweetest dog....

until he sees FedEx, UPS or the Postal Truck...

then he is super excited barking.

He also doesn't really like it when he feels like he is being ignored.

Then he becomes very chatty until you look at him with those puppy dog eyes!

Crazy Family

 Kaleb walked in from work with his hard hat on.

It is this boy's dream come true to be wearing it. He collects stickers to stick on. 

I saw it sitting on the bench in the kitchen where he happens to shed  the many layers of his work garb....that is supposed to be in the laundry room.

I saw that he had written on the inside brim. It made me smile.

I sure am proud of this kid.

And then he took the hard hat off to eat dinner!

Holy Cow he needs his hair cut!

 Here is the daughter that is supposed to be resting a sprained MCL. She claimed that this stunt doesn't make it hurt. I kind of believe her. If she wasn't a figure skater, she probably would never know that she sprained her MCL. It only hurts when she jumps and lands on the ice or when she squats super low to do a sit spin.

 I was working on the computer when she says.....

Mom....Mom....Mom.....

I should have known!

 Victoria happened to have some of the lego drawers upstairs when Kaleb walked in from work. He didn't make it very far. Some habits are hard to shake.

The temptation was too great!

 I guess Lightning thinks the wood tray is for him to lay in while we eat dinner.

You have to be an animal lover to live in this house.

 We moved the exercise bike out of the basement so Victoria could use it to rehabilitate her knee. 

This is how skinny guys stay skinny while eating ice cream! 

 Victoria dressed for 4 degree weather. Out to wrangle goats.

She has no sympathy for any of her peers who say they are tired, or that it is cold, or that they have to empty the trash or something, when every morning, rain, snow, ice or shine, she is out to feed goats, and bring her babies hot water after taking a sledge hammer to knock the ice out of buckets.

She's a tough girl.

 Tess was the best medicine after Victoria having a bad day between her knee and headaches from a  head concussion. She was at the ice rink even though she wasn't skating and Tess, of course, kept her laughing the entire time. She is the funniest girl and filled Victoria with happy thoughts.

 Kaleb texted this picture to Kirk just after he built this rod in our laundry room as a temporary place to hang wet clothes etc... Kirk almost died because it isn't strong enough for Kaleb to do chin ups!

 Typical big brother bugging the little sister. 

I guess he's checking to see if she is still ticklish.

 Kirk and I were talking when I told him to turn around and look at Jasper.

Having a house full of people for 27 years can feel daunting. But I wouldn't like it any other way.

I love that we still have a full house. I love hearing about their day, the good and the bad. I love cooking dinner for all of them and I love that they will wash the dishes. 

Kirk and I are pretty lucky that we have such awesome kids.

We have a wonderful family.