Wow! I am out of it!

Hello, fellow friends and family. I am finally coming back into the blogging world briefly to inform you all that "I'M NOT DEAD, YET!" (but I may have one foot in the grave). Life has been very challenging to say the least. Somewhere between packing up our belongings, taking a million loads back and forth between the houses, Darin having back problems (resulting in an epidural as a latch-ditch effort to avoid back surgery), hurting my back and arms in return, traveling to Vegas for a family wedding, sending Darin off to the Philippines for 8 days, getting the kids into school (year-round...they started Monday), and the slow process of unpacking - - - I have managed to keep my sanity, barely. I have never felt "my age" more than I have lately, that being a body that aches so badly that there is little relief, even after I lay down. Tylenol PM and 800mg Motrin have been my best friend, as of late. I was having some problems with my hands and arms before we moved, during the packing process that was giving me a little scare. My fingers were numb and tingly, and very painful, too. They were swelling up enough that I couldn't wear my rings. It was hard to do any "fine motor" activities with my hands/fingers (cutting meat, holding a plate full of food, hanging up close on a hanger, using tools, drying my hair with a dryer, etc.) And I was supposed to be packing up my house at a time like this? I finally went to the doctor and he supposed that it was some type of inflammatory issue, and he prescribed Tylenol and Motrin. (He was hesitant to pull out the Prednisone (steroide) unless he had to.) The Tylenol and Motrin did not help completely, but at that point I didn't have time to even think about it...so life went on. It soon moved to my feet/ankles and now into my shoulders. Again, I haven't had time to stop, so I deal with it. Every day I wake up and hope to get at least a few boxes carried up or down.

Darin has not been able to do as much as he would like to, but has done way more than he should. The Predisone he was on was starting to offer side effects and it wasn't working, so the epidural came into play. That hasn't been the solution either, but has made it so he can at least function. The neurologist was not so sure it would even work, because of how bad his spine is and how much his nerves and muscles have atrophied. Back surgery is his next option. This trip to the Philippines, although he'll be running around like crazy, will hopefully give his back the "rest" it needs.

The girls are fine. Emotions have been running high in our family the last couple months. They miss their friends, but the older ones have found a few girls to play with down the street. We are the only house in our cul-de-sac, so it is a little bit of a walk to make it up/down our street (not to mention the driveway...but that's a story for another day). Starting school has been eventful. It has been good for them to make some connections quickly up here, although most of the kids in our ward and neighborhood are on different tracks, and therefore in different classes. I miss them when they are gone. Their day is long with a bus ride to and from school included. They are tough kids, though, and I know they'll make it through this mess.

I have photos to post of my brother's wedding and other "happenings" to catch-up on. But for now...these will do. Thanks for your support, prayers, and patience with us! We love you!

The Gals' first day of tennis lessons before we moved.

Our Family at the LV Temple for Mike's Wedding

Brooklyn's and Makenna's 1st day of School
(Dakota had her Kinder Interview that same morning.)

Oakley got stung by wasps. I couldn't resist capturing the drama.

The girls are happy and well at our new abode.