Those lazy, hazy, crazy days of summer......

It seems our days are filled with fun and adventure each day. There is never a dull moment -- to be sure, and some of these snap shots will attest to our lives!
Cowboy Noah is giving Annie Oakley Mia a "country" version of Kung Fu! She is definitely interested in acquiring this skill!







Helpful Noah is trying to urge Queen Bella to get herself out of my thyme! I know she loves the smell of the perfume, but she ruined my first big tuft of it last summer. It was barely starting to recover when she made the scene again. There are many other choice areas that are cushioned for the "Queen," that offer not only the soft bed to lie on, but also shade! Come on, Bella!






The kids all wanted to go to Grandpa Great's when I was irrigating, as they had been up to Sister Lefler's the other day with their mothers and thought it was so much fun. They had to try their big motor skills out on the swings and then get in the "swim" of things with the irrigation water. Olivia was trying to teach them all how to do dismounts, but I didn't think it was wise!






As you can see, the kids were pretending they were cliff jumping into the ocean, I guess. Ellie and Luke have to set the standard for the younger ones to follow. I actually don't think that Noah needs alot of coaching! Oh the life of a kid in the country and irrigation water! The shot I didn't catch was mud pie making. The pies were delicious looking and just the right consistency. The kids offered them to Tank and Bob, but when they refused, Noah decided to try them himself. He ended up gasping and trying to wipe the delicious tasting delicacies out of his mouth!


The Mom's were having a pretty good time themselves while the kids entertained themselves! Billie Jo was on the phone with Chelsea trying to organize the vacation at Bear Lake and Olivia was reading a good book.









As you may know, Grandpa's back had degenerated to the point that he couldn't walk, climb stairs, or stand up straight. We made a trip to the doctor, but he just advised Dad to try and keep on top of the pain with pills. Dad had investigated spinal decompression many months ago, but we were rather busy caring for Mom at the time. We decided it was worth a try since there didn't seem anything that medicine could do. The daily process is to go in and get on the swivel chair. As you can see, the chairs look like office chairs that are broken and without a back. The person moves their body much the same as with hola hoops. This warms up the spine.

Dad then has the laser on the L-4, L-5 area of his back prior to the decompression. By the way, the fish are really pretty interesting and exoctic. You wouldn't think they could be as entertaining and relaxing as they are! This is Autumn helping Dad and she is great with him. He, of course, wins all the girls hearts with his teasing.







Next, Denille takes him to the "decompression table" room. They put two belts around his middle with a strap that goes up his back and one that goes in between his legs. These are then hooked on to the top and the bottom of the table and he is stretched a bit. The table then separates in the middle several inches and then the 3-computers take charge. The stretching is done 17 times throughout a 28 minute period. The first day, 75 pounds of pressure were applied to the stretch; the second day, 85 pounds; and the third and fourth days, 95 pounds of pressure. One of the computers monitors muscle spasms and other relevant information throughout the decompression process. All last week, they kept him at 95 pounds of pressure on the stretching. It seems absolutely amazing to me that Dad can actually walk without his cane quite well now and go up stairs without much problem. He still has a long way to go - 4 more weeks of treatments - but it is so encouraging to see his progress already. Don't get me wrong, he still has pain, but I think it is pain he can manage. It seems like the 3 days of the weekend when he isn't having treatments are the worst. The first day back after the weekend makes him a little sore, but by Tuesday, he feels really good. I lost the last picture in cyber space somewhere, but after the decompression, they make him go to another 25 minutes of electric cold stimulation on the area of his back that is being stretched. He has to wear a big belt all the time that has an ice pack tht we change every two hours. He takes 5 omega 3 pills every day and has had to take 18 natural anti-inflamatory pills daily. He has now completed the anti-inflamatories, but needs to continue the omega 3. Apparently they are really good for you!
Dad is tending his yard (watering) and likes to go out to the barnyard to check on the ponies and occasionlly let them out or put them in. He feels so good that he can now do these things without falling down. He makes the daily trek to the cemetery and cares for the flower pots we have up there. Today he took a hose and sprinkler up and watered the whole plot, so the grass will look good. I am so thankful his quality of life is on the improve. I love him so much and hate to see him in such pain as he was in.