YUCKY WEEK

MONDAY 25, JANUARY 2016

Well, this YUCKY WEEK has begun.

We had a great Stake Conference weekend.  The satellite went out as President Gray was giving his final points of his talk, but we got the gist of it and we heard his great message on Saturday night.  Basically our message was be nice and look for those who are lonely or need our help as we visit with those in our congregations.  

After the Sunday meeting which we attended in Edmond building, we went home and discussed what we had learned together.  It is always fun to question Grandpa Arthur to see what he got out of the meetings compared to what Grandma Gene heard.

Then Patriarch Hutto came over and helped Grandpa Arthur give Grandma Gene a priesthood blessing for my procedures and doctor consultations this week.  It's nice to have friends.  Thanks Kenneth & Grandpa Arthur for the very wonderful blessing.  I feel like I can face all the needles and tubes etc. this disease is bringing with it.

I'm writing this as I snack on Dulcolax stool softeners and Gatorade with Miralax.  I know you all would like to join me, right?

I did swim this morning and that felt marvelous!

Last evening I opened the blanket that Sarah and Ryan, our youngest son, brought me & found out it was warm snuggly pajamas!  They will be good to have around for this cool rest time.  Pink Polka dots...too fun, and socks to match.  Thank's Ryan and Sarah!

We also walked up and had a little dinner with Heather and her family last evening.  She gave us some yummy soup with lots of filling pasta and veggies included.  Then three of her children and the dog walked home with us.  Helen McKay told me the best thing I can do after surgery is start walking as soon as the doctor tells me to do so.  I don't mind walking so started early..ha!

As we walked home we passed the neighbors horses.  The sun was just setting and I handed my phone to our granddaughter Lily and she took this shot.  The horses were just turning around to leave.  I love this picture.

Then we got home and Grandpa Arthur thanked the children for walking us home.

They posed for a picture...and they scurried back up to their home with the dog in the lead.  I am so thankful we have 7 grandchildren that live close to us.  They all just pop in occasionally and it is a delight when they do so.  Oh, the energy of grandchildren...wish we could bottle this!

FRIDAY, 29 JANUARY 2016
Happy Birthday to John Darrell Bushman.  Grandpa Arthurs older brother turns 73 today!  Last weekend their youngest daughter got married.  We know Uncle Darrell and Aunt Darla danced at the wedding and surprised all how agile they are.  We weren't able to attend, but have been at many dances with this awesome couple and they have rhythm!  Enjoy this 73rd year Darrell!

Well this Yucky week has been moving along.  I agreed to hire a new surgeon..via..my husband and daughters request.  I have chosen Dr. Dunn to do my Colon surgery on the 8th of February.
Thank's for answering all our questions Dr. Dunn.  We really don't  want to experience this YUCKY procedure, but you have helped us be more comfortable with our dilemma. I will be at the OU Surgical unit by the OK Capital Building in the downtown OKC area.  Please remember
this kind doctor in your prayers...and his surgical team....here we go!

Heather and Grandpa Arthur asked all kinds of questions about this upcoming surgery.  Heather keeps me entertained so I won't get nervous.  She climbed up on the examination bed and totally enjoyed entertaining Grandpa Arthur and me till the doctor came into the exam room.  She opened all the cupboards in this photo.  We found the first green cabinet is just for show and when she pulled the knob the whole front came off!  Ha...got to love this baby girl of ours.

Heather has been a great help to Grandpa Arthur and I.  As she has been helping us, her van has been making YUCKY noises and two of her sons have gotten sick.  One has a double ear infection and the other needed to be picked up from school with a YUCKY headache and congestion.  Being a mom and daughter too is hard work!  Thank you, Heather, for helping us this week.  We love the Binky!

Meanwhile since I must wait a few days again, for this YUCKY event, I have chosen to swim each morning.  After all the Seminary students must still get up so I should keep going because of their example, right?  This is my gear I use when I swim.  I take half the house with me...ha!  I will be
forever grateful the city built this YMCA pool just a couple of miles from our cave.  We are blessed.

I have one more blood test, chest ex ray and who knows what all before the 8th.  My arms look like pin cushions.  I learned what rolling veins are.  My veins are rolling and rocking...both arms would not cooperate for the Flex Sig procedure last Monday, so they had to use my wrist.  I should have been a nurse...then I would understand all these YUCKY events I am experiencing.

Meanwhile, Grandpa Arthur, is still cutting up trees that fell during the ice storm.  He put weather stripping on the back door to keep the kitchen warmer.  He is keeping busy as he ponders this YUCKY week.  I caught him on his knees repairing the door knob!

It is a beautiful day in Oklahoma today.  The sky is blue and Grandpa has filled the old wagon with wood for our fire place.  We are blessed to have lived in this home for so many years.  Life is good even when we have YUCKY news!  We hope all of you can endure your trials and remember that this life is what we choose to make it.  We choose to find joy in this day.  Meanwhile it is lunch time and Grandpa Arthur is eating his apple and crackers for lunch.  He is a constant in my life.

I have been indexing a lot lately...I feel I must accomplish something during the day.  Hurrah for Indexing!  Really I am an arbitrator for Oklahoma School Records from 1895-1960 for all the small communities in Oklahoma.  I've arbitrated about 5,000 records so far this year...I do this so I will feel like I have helped someone with their genealogy.  I then watch tv and read books and blog the rest of my free time..ha!

We found this bouquet of flowers on our front porch.  I feel loved.  Thank's Sister Stowell!

Our Grandson Jake measured himself with the markings our children put on the door frame.  Jake is the same height as our son Ryan was at 16.  Jake is 13.

He is too tall for our living room couch.  Ha!

Lily is the same height as her mother was at 14...Heather is still that same size...too fun.  Lily is 11 and still growing.  This was fun to compare with our own babies..love the grandbabies!

Our Cecily had her wisdom teeth extracted, getting ready for college.  Hope you feel better soon Cecily.  We love you.

Our granddaughter, Brenna, texted me before my Flex Sig procedure and told me she had been fasting for me that day.  She is only 12 and fasted while attending school.  That made me cry.  I am a very blessed Grandma.  Thank you Brenna for loving Grandma Gene enough to fast for me.
These are pictures of our Brenna.  She is growing up to be a beautiful young woman.  Time moves quickly!

Well, with this thought I will end this blog.  This YUCKY week ended with less YUCKY than it began.  I'm glad I write my feelings down.  As I ponder this life and the happening this week, I feel protected and loved.  Thanks again to each of you for phone calls, texts, cards, e-mails, flowers and visits.
"I Gene having been born of goodly parents, therefore I was taught somewhat in all the learning of my father; and having seen many afflictions in the course of my days, nevertheless, having been highly favored of the Lord in all my days; yea, having had a great knowledge of the goodness and the mysteries of God, therefore I make a record of my proceeding in my days."
The first book of Nephi 1:1
&
Blog post # 110 of the last testament of Gene Davida Wade Bushman
Yucky week is over, yea, a record of being a patient patient has begun for Grandma Gene.  Love your families, be kind to all you greet.  Make sure you are kind to yourself also.  You are loved and highly favored of the Lord.  Of this I am sure.  Hurrah for Israel.

The Anakims, the giants, were still inhabiting the promised land, and they had to be overcome. Said Caleb, now at 85 years, “Give me this mountain”.  (Josh. 14:12).
Grandma Gene, at 69 years, can conquer this giant, "Give me this mountain".
So if next week I end up in I "C" U...just remember Grandma Gene says, "Peek a boo, I see you"!
Hug's always,
Grandma Gene & Grandpa Arthur
Gene and Arthur