SAVOR Heart Health Month

February has been Heart Health Month for years, but I never thought much about it until this week. I have tried to prepare healthy meals, avoiding too much salt, cheese, butter, fatty and junk foods and so on. Now it has slapped us in the face and we will always be aware and grateful that the sure signs of trouble are common knowledge. Knowing this helped us decide to go to the emergency room to have I checked out.

Little did I know hanging this 'S' on my front door last week that many S words would play out in our life such as: SIXTY THREE, SICKNESS, SURE SIGNS, STAY (hospital), STENT, SALT LAKE REGIONAL, SURGERY, SORE, STIFF, SOFT FOOD DIET, SCAPING (SHAVING), and so many more 'S' words we could find and associate with our adventures this month.

Take care of yourself and live a long healthy life.

Ticket to Ninety With a & Station Stop at Bypass Surgery

Yesterday after years of telling Allan he shouldn't be eating unlimited helpings of cheese, butter, and such, he had a small heart attack. A visit to the Emergency Room with a blood test, confirmed the heart trouble. The signs were pretty clear: Heaviness in the entire upper chest, sweating and nausea. When the pain persisted, we took the safe road and had it checked out.

Two EKG's later he was admitted to the hospital and prepped for the "Cath" Lab to send a camara up the femoral artery to see what's was going on in the heart. The doctors would do a 'Stent' if there was a minor problem. It was discovered one large artery was blocked and three small.

Now he is stopping at the 'Heart Station' for a quadruple bypass. Wires are connected to every part of his upper torso. Three medications are dripping into his system. Confinement to bed is causing major aches and pains. The ambulance transported him to the correct hospital. How fun!! Now he waits for the surgeon to make room for the chest opening operation.

No more cheese, butter and double helpings. He will be careful from now on, so his ticket to Ninety years old, doesn't expire before its time.

Brayle and Baby Bonding

Brayle, our oldest grandchild loves babies, so when our youngest one crossed her path, they were both smitten. Max took to her like a bee to pollen. She arranged his heart headband, combed his hair, shared her dessert and loved him to the moon and back.

It was like a couple of love birds. They spoke the same language as she doted on him and he let her. It isn't often they spend time together, because of the sixty miles they live apart. She is busy with high school and sports. He with napping, exploring and growing. A Sunday dinner we all shared brought laughs and photos of the two best cousins.

We have got to do this again next month! What a treasure.

Max Meets Taz

We had the blessing of tending Max one evening a few weeks ago. He investigated the fireplace, tile floor, windows and stairs. I put a guard on the bottom to keep him from climbing up. Good ole' Taz, from Jory's youth kept vigil at the stairs. He had a doll in his mouth to let Max know what could happen to him (kidding). Max actually took the little baby and shook it to pieces. He seemed to enjoy watching its hair flop around.

I remember the year when Taz came out. Jory loved him and watching the show he was featured in. For Jory's seventh, eighth or ninth birthday, he got a Tasmanian devil with a matching watch. He couldn't tell time, but enjoyed watching Taz's tail go around the dial. Taz sat on Jory's bed along with Zero and other stuffed friends. Now Taz watches his son and keeps him safe. At least we like to think so.

Zero Calories Zucchini One Cup at a Time

We all hate to find a huge zucchini we missed when picking from those fertile myrtle plants. It happened to me this summer, too. I hated to throw even these elephant sized ones away, so I stored them in the garage for the grandkids to carve. In November while rummaging through my cold storage for onions, I ran across the zucchini. I brought one in the kitchen to peel and shredded a cup of it. It was added to my dish as a filler. No one could tell (not that it mattered). Later that week, I used more for muffins, then omelets and so on.

Fast forward four months since they were picked, to today, January 29th. Those zucchini's never spoiled or got soft and are still going strong. Long after the small ones I so lovingly horded in the fridge for stir fry that went bad in October, the super-sized ones keep being added to fajitas, tossed salads one cup at a time and making my meals even healthier.

I will never turn away those offers of king size zucchini again, at the end of the growing season. All winter long they will be filling my smoothies, sauces and such with super healthy zero calories.

Bringing Up Birthdays

January is a big birthday month. Our immediate family has four: Breann, Alicia, Hunter and Joshua. What a joy they have been in our family. Both Breann and Alicia have accomplished amazing things by getting multiple and interesting degrees. Being mom's they have learned patience, great love, creativity and had to stay up many a night with sick children. As daughters, they have made us very proud with their humility, kindness and service to others. Caring and loving wives are also wonderful attributes. Hunter will be thirteen this month, an official teenager. Lookout mom and dad. He is a kind, competitive and handsome young man. He likes hunting, riding horses and is a great worker. Joshua will be three. The magical age, when they finally understand and you can reason with them. That is a milestone. He loves trains, trucks and trying his mom's patience.

Allan's extended family has more: Marion, Dennis, Linda, Julie & Todd (Blaine's). My side has some winter birthdays with: Paula and Brian. Here is to all those that celebrate with snow outside. They have ice skating or sledding parties, indoor activities making snowflakes and have to be creative. Have a Happy birthday January born loved ones.

Basketball & Brayle

We have a basketball star in the family. Pictured here on the front cover of the Tooele Transcript, going up for a basket. It helps to be tall, strong and coordinated. We are very excited to be related. At the end of the day, she is pretty beat up, so she wears support leggings to prevent bruises after being knocked down numerous times. She loves the game no matter the cost.

My only claim to basketball fame was at age fourteen I scored eight points in a game. I was on Cloud 9. I can't imagine how Brayle feels when she does good. Currently on junior varsity, she often plays varsity, too. What a blessing to play for a 3A school, to have a better chance for playing time. Congrats, Brayle. You rock!!