Brent quoting Tevye from Fiddler on the Roof: "Sometimes I think, when it gets too quiet up there, You say to Yourself, "What kind of mischief can I play on My friend Tevye?"" (insert 'Brent' in place of Tevye)

Not updating for a couple of months leaves much to be said. Here is a synopsis of events:

January: Brent is doing great! Back to work, busy, working in shop, building, carving, fixing things.
             Lisa is working at BYU Bookstore helping with online book orders for the new semester.
             Kids still going here, there, and everywhere. Michelle moved back home and started her new job as a nurse in Neuro Science Trauma at Primary Children's Medical Center in Salt Lake City.

February: Brent has excruciating pain in shoulder blade, upper back. Dr says trapezeous muscle, prescribes muscle relaxants. They don't help, gets worse, goes to Physical Therapy, Dr says rib out of place pushing on trapezeous muscle causing spasms, cranks on it for a few weeks, starts to feel better.

Smell a nasty smell coming from basement. Can't find source of smell. Find source of smell . . . a sopping wet pillow on Michelle's floor . . . further investigation leads to two flooded rooms. yippee! Rented a storage unit, put out a text for help, wonderful neighbors show up, empty Michelle's room and family room, rip up carpet (no tears shed about that, it was 25 yrs old.), rip out sheet rock, discover water leak coming from Michelle's window. Too much snow, followed by a week of rain with still frozen ground, and an improperly installed window, led to the flooding. Rip out more damaged sheet rock/insulation. find termite damage. Sit down and cry. Call friend, confirms termite damage, rips out more sheet rock in walls and ceiling, confirms my suspicion of old termite damage, not any live action. Phew. We had termites 20 yrs ago and were treated for several yrs. Need to replace several 2x4's and header. Continue to totally gut Michelle's room, now down to concrete and studs. Dig out window well and put in gravel. Figure we might as well do the long-planned remodel on the family room while it is already half torn apart. Rip out ugly panelling, tear down faux top of fireplace (bricks weren't even secured . . . just sitting there waiting to fall on someones head). Now the rebuilding begins. Woo-hoo! Thankful for good friends who are talented in carpentry and sheet rock and windows. Oh, forgot the fun trip to the dump which got us two flat tires on the trailer. I applied for a job I thought I would be great at, didn't get it.

March: Oh, and right after the funky smell was detected in the basement, and we got everything moved, Brent lost the use of his left leg due to severe pain shooting down it. Thought it was sciatica nerve pain, got worse, went to Dr, said no sciatica, inflammation behind the knee, prescribed high steroids, didn't help, got worse, bought crutches, called Dr, had MRI, shows bulging discs, has steroid epidural, can walk now! Yay! Drove himself to work yesterday.

I am sure I forgot lots of other fun stuff, probably a good thing. When it rains, it pours, apparently into our basement. Ha. 

Throughout it all, we sometimes cry (lots) and sometimes laugh because that's about all we can do. We sometimes feel picked on, and other times feel blessed. We sometimes whine and complain and sometimes thank the Lord. We sometimes go to bed exhausted physically and emotionally, and sometimes sit on our butts and drink a well deserved Diet Pepsi or Dr. Pepper. We always, ALWAYS remember our family and friends and count our blessings for you.

Let the journey continue . . .

Lisa