Fresno State University

It has been a busy summer for Owen with football.  I think this weekend was his last visit that he really wanted to get to.  It was a far one, 12 hours driving.  I was so excited to go on a roadtrip with just Owen and I.  We left early Sunday morning drove, drove, & drove until we got to Fresno, CA that evening.  First impression of Fresno was a little scary.  Mat served a mission in Fresno, and he had told us it was the "armpit" of California.  It was so hot, and dead.  No one was outside.  As we came out of dinner and people were starting to come out, we realized it was because the sun was down now and it was somewhat tolerable.  We stayed in a nicer part of town and the campus was a completely different place of its own.  We did a little walking around Sunday evening, but really just wanted to go back to the hotel and relax in air conditioning that we could crank and not worry about the bill.  I was really impressed with the coaches and campus at Fresno State.  It is still super crazy to be at a college with my own son and trying to see him really at college and really living on his own 12 hours from home.  Our drive home was doomed from the beginning.  We were later getting out of town then we wanted ( it was a really good tour and we really just had a good time not worrying about the drive home) and traffic had a chance to really build up.  California is terrifying to drive in.  I was so grateful when we started the climb into the Sierra Mountains, because that was an amazing part of the drive.  On the way to CA there was a grass fire that shut the roads down in the other direction and caused a traffic jam on our side.  Well, on the way home the whole I80 was shut down because of a fire and we were rerouted through Tahoe.  Except for the major traffic and 4 hour detour I didn't mind at all because it was the most beautiful place I've ever seen.  The ocean/lake is my calm.  I've always loved the water to relax and sit and listen to the waves.  I left Owen to fill up with gas and I walked down to Lake Tahoe.  I never wanted to leave.  The traffic had me so wound up, but that place took it all away.  Next year on our vacation, we are going to start it in Lake Tahoe.  Knowing that we wouldn't get home until about 6am, we buckeld up and just drove.  We had some great conversations just he and I, that part of the drive was nice.  He had a busy day today at home, so I told him to try to get some sleep.  There was another wildfire in NV, but it was a bit off the road, it was eerie to see burning though.  The 2 days was a lot of fun.  I've never been out of town with just 1 of my kids at a time, it was actually really fun.  I missed Davis and Gator like crazy, but I loved the alone time with Owen, especially since obviously he will be gone to college real soon. 

 

Sunday night after we arrived in Fresno we were starving.  Owen goes out to pizza on every visit, he said that is how he is going to pick the school.  We went to Pizza Factory, it wasn't that good, but the next day on campus we went to lunch with some coaches to Pieology, now that was yummy pizza. 

 Hotel room showerheads and mirrors are never made for tall people. 

Monday on tour of the campus and football facilities.

 This Donner Lake, right before we had to get off I80. 

 At least it was a pretty detour

 This is part of what got me so annoyed.  I had a half tank of gas when we got off I80.  With all the stop and go traffic and stopped for 3 hours, I was running very low on gas.  We finally coasted into Tahoe and found a gas station.  All the pumps were taken, but not a single car was actually pumping gas (the green suburban parked so far from their pump, they were taking up all the room so I couldn't get into the other stall).  Multiple people got in and out of these cars all staring at me waiting, but just continued to use the stalls as a parking lot.  It was 11 minutes before anyone moved.  That is when I left Owen to take care of the gas and I went down and saw the lake. 

 This calmed me down.  Lake Tahoe is absolutly stunning.  When I was thinking of this trip, I wanted to stop in Tahoe and make a little vacation of it, but that didn't work out.  So I was secretly happy we had to detour this way and I still got to see the lake.  It was fast, but I still got to put my feet in the lake.

 

 

Lake Day

We had such a fun day today!!  We rented some paddleboards from Weber State and went up to Pineview.  It was the perfect day.  105 degrees isn't too bad when spent in the lake.  Except for we couldn't apply enough sunscreen to beat the sun, and we are pretty burned.  Carrie, Wayne, Livia and Mat & Andrea's family, Collin, and Owens friend Taysin went with us.  We were in the water from 9am-4pm and we still had to drag the kids out.  We want to do this again before we go back to school, hopefully we can get even more people to go with us next time.  Davis got the okay from his doctor to be able swim "gentley".  He is feeling pretty good, and I was a nervous wreck the whole time that he was doing too much.  But he was smart and got out and rested when he needed to and he kept his eye covered.  He really is being very patient with healing.  He has gotten frustrated a couple of times, but I think he realizes how important it is to listen and take it easy.   I love the memories we made today, thank you family. 

Repeat Friday

Last Friday we went to Fat Cats, and that is right back where we ended up today too.  It started as a plan to hang out with Livia before she heads up to The U, but she was stuck at soccer and couldn't make it.  Some of the rest of us went though and had a party without the guest of honor. 

 Davis wasn't very happy with me.  I told him he could bowl using the ramp.  I didn't want him picking up the heavy ball and throwing it.  I want his eye to keep healing.  Well, he said the ramp was lame, so he just didn't participate. 

 Owen does not like to lose.  And when the little kids get bumpers, it was kinda hard to beat them.  He was not happy about this. 

 Afton had a handful of tootsie rolls and wanted to cheer Davis up, so she climbed up the tall stool and sat right by him and shared her treat.  It was the dang cutest thing!!!!

Try It Thursday Review

For today's Try It Thursday we went to lunch at Slackwater.  I've heard about this place from some people in my ward.  It is right by the Temple in Ogden on the Ogden river.  It was fun to sit on the patio and hear the river, but a little warm and bright I thought for comfort.  When asking the kids where we should go, I said "Slackwater Pub and Pizzeria", Owen heard pizza and he was down, he wouldn't listen to any other suggestions. 

 

There wasn't much of a "kids" menu.  Gator and I shared an alfredo chicken pizza and a salad.  So our review is pretty much the same.  We really liked the pizza and the atmosphere.  If others we were with wanted to go to Slackwater we decided we would go back, but we wouldn't choose the restaurant on our own. 

 Davis liked his calzone.  He liked the atmosphere, it was just way too bright on the patio where they sat us.  He wore his sunglasses the whole meal.  He said if he had the choice, he wouldn't mind going back and trying it again. 

 Owen was not impressed at all.  He needs meat and grease and a big man's meal.  This place was a little on the vegetarian/lighter side and that is not Owen.  He said he wouldn't ever be back.  He gave a pretty harsh review. 

Eye Update

A couple hours before Davis's accident, he ordered a new pair of snow skis.  He has been working and saved up the money to buy these all on his own. Today before we went to the doctor again, the skis were delivered.  That brought out a huge smile and tons of excitement in Davis.  I was happy to see the smile back.  The doctor brought even more good news.  Yes, there is still blood in his eye, but the steroids are being bumped up to hopefully resovle that.  The swelling is significantly less, which is just amazing.  Everything in the back of the eye looks pretty good considering the trauma his eye has had.  Best of all, his vision is coming back.  It is still extremely blurry, but it's improving and that is fantastic news!!  The doctor wants him sleeping in the chair still with the shield on to protect it while he sleeps and the help the blood resolve.  I guess rebleeding can be an issue 5-10 days after an eye injury.  The doctor says it's not way common, but it does happen, so let's do what we can to prevent it.  Davis is still on activity restrictions, just not quite as strict.  We go back to the doctor on Friday, hoping for some even more good news.  Prayers are amazing.  Davis has many people praying for him and we are seeing them work first hand and it is a pretty cool thing.  I hope Davis can see this testimony builder like I can, because I am very humbled and feel the Lords hand healing Davis. 

Gator is great at reminding me of Water Wednesday.  That is one day she won't let pass her by.  Since I didn't want to go too far from Davis at home, I called our neighbor and she was more then happy to let us take a dip in her pool.  Gator called a friend and Water Wednesday was planned.  She doesn't need much, just a pool and water and she is over the moon excited. 

 

4th of July

I remember a 4th of July that was cloudy and cool.  It was fabulous to sit and watch the parade in the cool weather.  Every year I wish we would have another cool spell on the 4th of July, but this year like all the others I remember was not that year.  It was HOT today.  I am just not a person that loves the heat.  But in spite of the miseable 100+ degree temperatures, it was a fun day.  We spent the day in Layton.  This year was different with Grandma Jones having passed away and also Owen wanted to spend a lot of the day with friends.  So we made it work and still had a fun memorable holiday.  The Plain City parade was early so Owen went out there, then made it to Layton for that parade.  After we had a bbq at Colins with lots of yummy food and family.  After lunch lots of people went to the carnival over at the park, Owen went to swim with friends.  I was worried about Davis and the heat and activity so Clark, him and I went to Stewarts to rest in the air conditioned house.  Thank you for taking Gator to the carnival!  She has great aunts and uncles that include her in their fun.   Stewarts had a dinner later so everyone came over for that, then we went to Layton for fireworks.  At Colins, the kids had an Oreo and Pringle challenge.  They all liked that, but there is no way I wanted to try some of those flavors.  I just can't believe that a baked potato, pizza, or buffalo wing chip would be good.  Even Oreo has some creative flavors, but I think I could've done that challenge more then the chips.  We usually just sit on the lawn there and get out of the crowed before anyone else can get back to their cars, but as the kids get older they usually want to go up to the high school and get a closer look.  I went with them this year, and oh man that short distance made a huge difference.  It was amazing and beautiful even as we were showered with ash and paper from the fireworks.  Davis just made sure to shield his eyes from flying debris. 

 

 

Modified Mountain Monday and early Treat Tuesday

I've been trying to get to Provo to hike Stewart Falls for a few weeks now and something always happens to keep us from being able to get down there.  I'm beginning to think we just aren't supposed to do that hike.  With Davis's injury we weren't able to hike today, but I still needed to get away from life for a couple hours so instead of hiking we went for a drive/picnic this week for Mountain Monday.  Davis wanted to drive up to Powder Mountain, he's thinking that is where he wants to get a pass for this year, so he wanted to go up there.  The pressure killed his eye and head though, so we ended up going to a park in Eden for lunch. 

 And with tomorrow being the 4th of July, Gator and I made our traditional 4th of July treat for Treat Tuesday a day early.   Muddy Buddy's.  We make these every year for the firworks. 

Many prayers for Davis

On Saturday evening Davis was injured.  He and some friends were in the backyard lighing off fireworks.  They were down to the last one for the evening around 10 pm and that is when I was upstairs and heard Davis run in the house screaming "mom, I was hit."  I  think that is up there with the worst fear I have ever felt.  He was in shock and very scared just saying over and over "mom, I need to go to the doctor."  I had one of those moments where I knew I needed to take him to the ER, so we got in the car and off we went not knowing what we were dealing with.  Once there I got the story of what happend.  They had put a firework in a Powerade bottle and put the lid on.  Davis lit it and ran, but for some reason at the exact total wrong time he turned back and that lid from the bottle shot right into his eye.  He saw a bright flash, then nothing.  The doctor did some tests and conversed with an opthamologist.  Davis was still unable to see anything and it was starting to hit home that maybe he wouldn't have vision in his left eye permanantly.  After a few hours we were able to go home with medicines to administer hourly, an eye patch, instructions to sleep sitting up, and an appointment the next day.  Davis and I made it through the night and went to the appointment Sunday morning.  First impression, the doctor was amazed.  He said he was scared after talking to the ER doctor for what he would be looking at.  He gave Davis a quick exam and sent us on our way feeling quite optimistic.  Well, that brief optimisim was a nice break from the reality of Davis's injury.  Because we went back today and although I still liked the doctor and he was still a nice guy, his whole mood and impressions changed as he looked into Davis's eye again.  He stated he had never seen such corneal swelling.  He saw bleeding behind the eye, which he hadn't seen on Sunday.  Davis's eye was just a blank stare.  It was scary to look at it and see it not moving, it wasn't tracking with his right eye.  I had misunderstood the doctor thinking he had said he was confident Davis would recover, because today he just said he was hopeful.  But the reality was that his eye was severely traumatized and may never recover.  After months of treatment he may need a cornea transplant.  Wow, how do we deal with this?  Davis skis, plays football, basketball, he longboards, he loves to run and be active, he wants to be a doctor.  But how is he going to be Davis if he is blind
in one eye.  He's had a blessing, and many family and friends and praying for him and we have faith that he will recover.  He knows it is going to take a long time, and it will be so hard to be patient and listen to the doctor, but if he gets his eyesight back it will all be worth it.  Right now he is on very restricted acivity because of the swelling and bleeding in the eye and the fact that the lid left an open wound on his eye.  Hopefully once the would heals and the swelling and bleeding stop his restrictions will be lifted as he waits and we all pray that the cornea is able to heal itself.