DYI - HOME IMPROVEMENT

Have you ever wondered why the TV show Home Improvement was so popular? Of course, we loved the 'cute' boys and the neighbor Wilson. It even had a show within a show "Tool Time", starring Tim, the Tool man Taylor, and his trusty side kick flannel wearing Al!!!

We like to laugh at fix it yourself type of projects. It's all funny until we are actually experiencing it and coming up with crazy fixes that work for us.


In fact, it is probably unusual if you don't have 'interesting' home repairs.

The first one that we experienced was moving in. We tried to move a couch in the basement living room. The entryway was right off the stairs with an opening about the size of a normal doorway. We had to tear it out for about double the size.

The next major one was the bathroom repair. There were a lot of problems, but the ones that top my list are the flood in my craft room and the fire while trying to weld a pipe together. Yep, those were good times.

The dishwasher has never been what I would call 'great.' But it worked and I tried not to complain. But in the last week or so, over 90% of the dishes were still dirty. It just didn't matter what setting or detergent. At my breaking point, I told Brandon my 'need.' Perhaps he was a little surprised at my forthright request.

We talked to the guy at Lowe's who was really helpful and gave us great tips and pointers on deciding which dishwasher was right for our needs. We decided on a Kitchenaid. Brandon, like any other guy, was excited about the extra power jets!

That was the fun part. But we all know that installation is not supposed to be 'fun.' We just hope it goes quickly and smoothly. The pipes were NOT 'standard.' After learning that, Brandon and I decided to fix it in the morning. We went to push the dishwasher under the counter top. I'll let you connect the dots ...



Yes, our countertops are NOT 'standard!' And, behind the counter top was a 1 by 2. Brandon really did and also does his best.

Do you know how frustrating it is? Oh, yes, I forgot ... most of you are home owners, so I am preaching to the choir.

One day, this might get fixed.

I am trying not to let the little things bother me and appreciating that the dishwasher actually cleans the dishes and my kids actually like to load and unload the dishes right now. Everything has a silver lining!

A FRIEND-OVER BBQ

On Sunday, we had a friend-over BBQ. We invited the Beauchats, the Coopers (whom we have mentioned having a BBQ with for a few years now), and the Bohneys (who are soon leaving to Texas.) After planning thisBBQ at our house, we found out that my family was having a BBQ for Tracy and Connor's birthday and for the Royce's (Robyn) who are moving to Nampa. I took the kids up to Grandma Zoey's for a few minutes before our BBQ started.

We enjoyed a simple BBQ, but more importantly, a night of visiting, complete with stories, laughing, and kids needing attention.

I really wanted to take plenty of pictures, but most people did not want pictures taken. Next time, it will probably have to be a requirement!!!

Here are the 2 of the youngest guests, Grace and Coen.

Kade is just a few days older than Dawson. He loved the chickens SO much!

Ethan holding a different chicken.

Myah and Bryleigh. I think that these two are really going to miss each other.

Anya and Tyler. Cute picture guys!

WAY BACK WEDNESDAY - FAITH AT 2

Faith's 2 year old pictures. She is a doll!!!

IT'S A LUAU!

Brandon's work held a luau bbq for employee apprecation in Rockland. It was quite a drive, but everyone had a really good time!

Hailey and Brian

The kids loved the shaved ice station


And the slip n slide


And there was even a pinata!

Linda


Jeremy




By the end, she was tired, wet, and cold!!!

GRANDPA KELLY LOVES THERAPY

In taking pictures of my mom during therapy, I snapped several of my dad. I thought that these pictures deserved their own post. So here is what Kelly does during Cindy's therapy.

He first started off playing with the Body Blade.

Slow on taking the picture, he knows he is getting caught.

What I was trying to get the first time. Using an arm pulley back and forth.

Oh look! There's a weighted ball. Basketball drill!

Pushing mom to Gold's Gym.

Watching mom on the bike.

Helping push her to get the bend.

Still hanging out in the wheelchair.

Helping again.

While mom gets ice, dad grabs this handy toy to do calf raises.

Pretty nifty, ey?

GIVE IT ALL YOU'VE GOT - 3 MONTH UPDATE

Today is the 3 month mark for my mom's recovery. It's interesting to see how fast and slow the time has gone.

As I asked Cindy about the approaching 3 month mark, she said that she was going forward. Progress is not measured inch by inch, but by the smallest, tiniest bits. She looks at where she's come from and what she has accomplished.

When she started therapy, she was able to bend her leg 80 degrees. On Monday the 8th, she bent her leg at 115 degrees. Cindy consistently bends at 110 degrees. A normal bend is 140-145 degrees. If she can get a bend of 120 degrees, she will be able to do stairs normally and no one will ever have to know what happened. Her therapists are amazed and very happy with her progress. The next benchmark will come when she can put weight on her leg. They are hoping that August 25th will be the day that Dr. Crane gives the 'ok'.

Since therapy is so much of her life right now, I thought that it would be great to document a typically therapy day for everyone to see.

Her therapy begins with an ultrasound massage.

Electrodes next. All of these next exercises are timed on a timer for 5 minutes.

Electrode leg lifts with ankle weights. Oh joy!!!

Electrode leg lifts with weight and ball. This is getting better by the minute!!!

Electrode leg extensions.

Still smiling

From what I could tell, this part looked the most painful to me. It is called scraping.

Here is some information that I found on scraping. The theory behind scraping is to scrape the muscle or tendon so hard that it turns bright red --- actually re-injuring your injury. Scraping has been used in Chinese medicine for thousands of years and was called Gua Sha. In layman's terms, the blood's congested, so you want to move the congested blood out and bring fresh blood in. This also breaks up scar tissue that is trying to build up. Localized and controlled injury can actually bring more healing to the sight.

These are the tools that they use to do the scraping.

Shea butter is apply and the bigger tool is used first.

Second tool.

By the end of this, my dad and I were both wondering what it feels like and how it would feel on our legs and such.

Wall sides with a pillowcase.

Too easy this time, so let's make it more challenging.

Next, it is on to Gold's Gym where Superior Therapy takes all of their clients to use these wonderful machines.

First up here is the bike. Interestingly, the rotation of the biking movement is one of the most critical and is used a lot in leg injuries. At this point, things were not going as well as it had the previous week. 10 minutes here.

10 minutes on the rowing machine, though we stayed longer.

Doing a measurement of the degree of bend.

Next to the Max Vibe machine that vibrates back and forth. This is her heaven. She kneels and then tries to sit on the bench behind her.

Then Rego, a tech, helps to bring her leg straight while vibrating.

Next, it's back downstairs to do 2 different hip abductor machines.


With weight on this machine, it is wrapped around her leg. She brings it forward, and then back to standing position.

Calf curl on the machine. Concentration.

Leg extension machine.

Using this machine to lock back into place. Very painful.

Trying to get a final measurement for the day.

Electrodes again!

From Cindy's view point. This is a super-duper ice wrap on her leg to help with swelling.

She says that you can never do enough ... but it's all she can do! I say, "Give it all you've got!" Then you can have no regrets in the future. Cindy is incredibly strong and one of the bravest woman that I've known. I am proud to call her mom!

Her team of therapists:

Bart, Cindy, Rego, and Mike