Eye Update

After my last eye surgery in July, the docs said it was necessary to remove the cataract, not only because it was making me blind, but he couldn't see how my retina was doing behind it.
I was scheduled for the cataract surgery for yesterday. Right up to the surgery, it was not clear if I would be able to have it done. The reason is, that when you have your cataracts removed, they have to measure the depth of your eye. This is how they determine what power of a new lens, and what kind should go in. My right eye is substantially shorter (less deep) than my left one. Additionally, they wanted to get it right this time, because it is my one chance. I couldn't "piggy back" another lens, or have this one removed and put in another. He said there has been too much trauma to my eye from all the other surgeries. All of the docs consulted and decided that irregardless of the outcome, the surgery needed to take place because they need to be able to see my retina.
So, I went in yesterday morning and had the procedure done. Afterward, they had to bandage my eye because they did something to it that made my eye not be able to blink. Becky and Chantel went with me, not to be supportive--although they were, but to watch the surgery. On the way home, they said they wanted a "Wild Hearts Can't be Broken" moment, when they take off her bandages and "voila!!" she can see. The doctor had told me that I shouldn't get my hopes up because the lens may not be the right one, and that even if it is, you usually can't see right away, so I just went along with it, and let them have their fun. At five they came over and after 20 minutes of carefully taking off the tape, I looked up and .....saw my son's red hat. It is the first thing I have seen in almost a year in that eye. Everything is still really blurry, I am hoping that is because of the dilation and drops. I may not be able to see completely, but anything is more than the white wall I have been looking at for the last 10 months.
I just know and have felt the power of prayer in my life so much over the course of the last year. I know that I have been comforted and helped in so many ways because of my own prayers and the prayers of others. I know that my Heavenly Father has been aware of me, I have felt his love.
Today when I got up, I covered my left eye and saw the grandfather clock.
With love,
Kathy

Dip-THONGS

Today while teaching an awareness of the long o sounds and spellings, one student points out the word 'boy' in a sentence and insisted that it has a long o sound.
"Yes, it does," I reply. "But the long o goes really fast in that word and then you hear the long e sound...that is a dipthong."

I see that the students are saying it to themselves, and are nodding as they hear the dipthong sound in their heads, but one boy raises his hand and waves it to get my attention.

I ask him what he wants and he retorts rather emphatically, "I think you are mistaken, Mrs B, a thong is a swimsuit."

This is the same student who observed that my arms are much younger looking than my face.

This is going to be a L-O-N-G year.

Mrs. B

End of summer

School has been in session for two weeks, but I am just now ending my summer. With summer school, surgery, and Kelsey's wedding, there hasn't been time for travel or summer vacation. However, Jeremy decided to marry a girl from California so we planned a trip down. Can you believe it, this was my first time EVER in California. Even when my sister lived on an Air Force base, we didn't go--sorry Pam.
I took last Friday off and we left right after school on Thursday. We went as far as Elko, which was a real treat. When we walked through the casino to check in I was amazed at how zombie-like the slots players looked. They were like the tiger in the Idaho Falls zoo who doesn't act like he cares that people are staring at him. OR maybe they were unaware. Either way, I am glad I don't do that.
The next day we were off. I loved the Sierra Nevada range. So gorgeous! Did not love the construction though. Then we drove straight through to Lodi where Charlie jumped out of a plane. Turns out it is something he has wanted to do forever. The skydiving place is just something I will have to blog about another time.
Here he is in his bright pink 'chute.'


Then we drove fast back to Roseville and had dinner with the Ruiz family. They are nice people and made us feel very much at home.
Then we had the excitement of finding our hotel. Everyone down there says "Sacramento is not that hard to figure out, its all on a grid!" The only problem with that was highway 99, 80, 160, 65 and then the a-z streets and the numbered ones, THEN how to avoid being hit by a public transit train! Luckily Paul, Rae's dad, led the way.
In the morning we went to the rehersal then back to "Old Sac" with the kids. I think I loved it more than they did. Its huge and fun and my favorite part was the candy shop. Yes, I spent $45.00 on candy.


We had to be back to Roseville by 5:00 for pictures then the wedding. The bride was beautiful, the groom very handsome. It was quite a lovely event and I believe a good time was had by all, especially those in my family who enjoyed the appetizers of kabobs, shrimp and bacon skewers and different cheeses and fruit.

Besides getting a new daughter and spending time with our grandkids, our favorite part was seeing an old friend who ironically lives in Roseville. This is ELDER Scott Stoneking. He was in Idaho about 23 years ago when came and taught, then baptized Mark.

Yesterday we got up and drove all the way home. We did make a detour at Lake Tahoe, then at Cabelas, though. All in all, it was a fun weekend. I look forward to going back and going to the temple with them.
Sorry for the long post!
Love, Kathy