Katie continues to improve and may be coming home today. She is still having trouble with getting out what she wants to say and still can not read. They are going to run some final tests today and then hopefully she will come home. I'll keep you updated!

Monday

I spoke with Randy and Katie is doing better. She was up walking around. She is having trouble forming sentences and can't read yet but Randy believes that will all come with time. Katie is understandably a bit discouraged, but Randy is expecting a full recovery. Katie is a very active lady and works hard on their farm. She was excited to here about the baby lambs, who are doing very well, and Randy was going to show her a picture of them when he went back to the hospital today.

Cara came over and since it was such a beautiful day we took her to see some local sights. A former fort from WWII and a driftwood beach. We tried to go to a local bakery, but it was closed. Insted we went to a coffee place that had baked good and Aunt Cara spoiled everyone with a treat. FUN!!

When the lambs come home next week Randy is going to set them up in our barn and he is going to let us take care of them. He will provide everything we need. The kids are excited!

Eventful Saturday

We have had a nice weekend!! There is a bit of sad news though. Our neighbors next to us are Randy and Katie. They are sheep farmers and are wonderful neighbors and we had planned to have dinner together Friday night. They planned to bring a Prime Rib Roast and a special homemade chocolate pudding Katie makes. Anyway Randy called and said he would bring the roast over at about 6 pm but that Katie would not be coming because she did not feel well. Randy brought it and the pudding over but did not stay either as he wanted to get back to Katie. It was so sweet of him to bring the planned dinner even though they could not stay. And it was yummy!!! Saturday morning Randy took Katie to the Dr in Seattle and it was determined that she had had a stroke. She is expected to have a good recovery but will be in the hospital until at least Tuesday. Please pray for her. This is Katie with one of the sheep.

The next part of my story is happy and something Katie will be excited about! Randy was going to tell her today.

Last night , around 5 pm, while Randy was still gone, I went outside on the porch and I heard a "crying" sound. My son Michael walked down our driveway to see if he could find where it was coming from and I'll be darned if he didn't find a new baby lamb standing by the fence "crying". His mother was not paying any attention to him and when he would walk to her she would run away. Anyway since Randy was not home and we did not know what to do we called his friend Charlie. Charlie came over and helped us figure out what to do. He went into the field and could not get near the mother. So he had us pick up the lamb. As he was turning to come out of the field he heard another sound behind him in the distance. He turned around and walked to the end of the field and he found another little lamb standing by the far fence . Anyway there are 2 new baby lambs!! One is white and one is black with a white patch on his head. They are both boys and they were totally unexpected!! Randy did not know the sheep was pregnant. He had just bought these new sheep last month. Randy was still not home by the time we found the other lamb and we did not have a way to call him. Charlie looked around his place and in his house for the mix to make lamb formula. We could not find it so Charlie told me what to buy at the store to make them some milk to drink. We put the lambs in some hay in our little chicken coop and John and I went to the store to buy bottles and the milk I needed.
We got it all and as we were just getting home Randy was arriving home too. He was very suprised at what we had to tell him! He then got lamb formula mix that we couldn't find, and so we didn't need what I had bought. Anyway I made bottles for them and we were able to feed them. They were not eating very well because they were cold so Randy made a place for for them in his bath tub with blankets and towels and turned up the heat to warm it up for them. We went home after that but Randy told us this morning that after they warmed up they ate very well and made it through the night. Charlie came and picked them up to take them to his house while Randy is at the hospital in Seattle with Katie. We can't wait until they come back home so we can help take care of them again. That was our excitement for yesterday!!

I wanted to get pictures of the lambs last night but we were too busy holding them and trying to get them to eat. I will try and get some when they come home. Cara is coming tomorrow and she was going to take some pictures but they are at Charlies place .

It has been a nice weekend and tomorrow we get to see Cara!

Change in 2009

Hi Everyone!!! I am feeling much better and almost to 100%. Thank-you again for your thoughts and prayers!!

WELL I almost can't believe I am going to tell you what I am going to tell you BUT in the big picture it will be for the best!! ANYWAY John is getting a promotion and we will be MOVING AGAIN!!! But not until July! John will start the new position and will commute to Bangor, WA. He will come home on the weekends and maybe a few other days a week. It is very good for Johns new career and we will be able to "relax and settle" once we are all moved.

So losing my job is looking more like a blessing in dusguise! With John gone part of the week until school is out I need to be available for my kids. Also this gives me time to finish going through all our stuff that is in the garage.

Honestly I am not looking forward to packing up again, but I've just got to buck up and do it! With this much advance notice it should be a much more orderly move than the most recent one.

We are thankful each day that we are back in Washington and thankful for this new opportunity for John!!

Thank-you!!

Hi All!

I just wanted to thank-you all for your thoughts and prayers while I have been sick! A MILLION thank-yous are not enough for our Cara Bear!! She always knows what to do and after two days of taking care of me she left my family with thorough instructions for my care!! If not for her care I would have been put into the hospital for sure.

One of the special things she did was to make sure Michael had a birthday party. My Mikey turned 14 and is a New Years baby!! I can't believe he is already 14! Michael is a special young man and is an "old soul". He loves Star Wars clone troopers. I think he has 0ver 100! He also loves all the old superman and batman shows from the 40's and 60's. He is a good student and an all around great guy!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY Michael!!! We Love You!!



Our snow is gone and this is what it looked like Saturday morning!!!
This is the sunrise I woke up to Sunday morning!!!!
Today I got the kids off to school OK and am just going to take it easy. The Dr said to only do what I feel like and to not push it and overdo. I'am going to "obey", I'm good at that!!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!
Have a blessed time with your families!

This is a picture of the "calm" before our second snow storm.
HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

The weekend

We got up this morning to not much more snow but it was windy last night and what we did get was drifted. There were dritfs about a foot deep in places. We planned so we could head out early for Church and got there in good time only to find out it was cancelled. We did not know because I have not signed up for the church newsletter yet so we are not on the e-mail list. I don't think any of the Churches were open today. We needed gas so we got that and then went home. John did a devotional with us and we just enjoyed being together. In the afternoon we headed out across the road for a neighborhood party.

The party was nice. The hostess fed us all a yummy dinner of lasagna, bread, an italian salad ,and a sausage pie that was very good. Rumcake and cupcakes were for dessert along with punch. We then played a game with "white elephant " gifts. She bought each child there a gift of there own. We had a good time and it was nice to meet some neighbors!

It is snowing pretty hard again and the base may be closed again tomorrow, so John could be home with us. He might go in just to go through his in box, so he is not "buried" later, but he won't stay all day.

We still have our water back and are leaving a faucet running so it does not freeze again.
Thats all for our lazy Sunday!

We have water again!!!! Yeah!!

No Water!

Well I have to remember how to ruff it w/o water! Ours froze today it is so cold! When we lived at the ranch in Idaho we would lose water sometimes, so I have done it before. It is really cold and another storm is due tonight or tomorrow. Heres to "Pioneering" LOL!

We are having a second snow day today. We have not gotten much more snow but the roads are icy, a kind of chunky ice on some because the snow plows did not go down them.

I may try and run into town later. I did not go anywhere yesterday until John got home from the airport. Scott arrived safely in Florida and it was 70 degrees there at 11 o'clock at night. So he is missing our snow , but I don't think he minds.

I made sprintz cookies for the first time in a long time yesterday and they turned out yummy. Potatoe soup sounds good for our snowy day today.

Now that I am home from work and staying busy around here, I wonder how I had time for it before. Having the kids around has helped with the transition.

SNOW DAY!

Yes, it is a snow day, but this is a picture I took last night! It is so beautiful! This is looking west. Above the tree line are the Olympic mountains and you can't see it but between the trees and the mountains is the ocean!
Since it is a snow day the kids are all home, except for Scott. Dad braved the weather to take him to the airport in Seattle. He is flying to Florida to see his friends he left behind when we moved here last December. James and Emily helped make pancakes this morning. James has a bandage on his hand because he accidentally touched the wood stove this morning. Ouch!!

Here are some more pictures of snow. Right now it is coming down pretty hard. And to think I told a new friend recently that we don't get much snow on the island! LOL!

Enjoy!!!!! You can see that the stump is more buried.

SNOW!

We had our first snow of the season here on the island. It was just a few inches but it sure is pretty! Enjoy the pictures!!

Things

Hi! It has been far too long since I posted! It has been really busy around here with the move and work. But as of yesterday I no longer have a job. I was laid off/let go, what ever you want to call it! Needless to say I was/am crushed, because I truly loved my job and being back in the healthcare world. OK- we won't talk about that anymore!! On to happier topics!!

We really, really love living in this house! Here are a couple of pictures of the view! They aren't the best. I'll have to work on getting better ones.The house just feels much more like home!

THANKSGIVING was WONDERFUL!!! It is the first time in 61/2 years that all my family was at my house for a holiday dinner. We did not go and do much, other than the "endless" shopping we seemed to need to do in our small town. We had to get ready for Rachels B-day party and needed "stuff". It was just awesome spending time with family and just hanging out. Cara took most of the pictures so I do not have much to show you. There is a shot of how the men in our family "bond"!

They sit around and read together. I think they talked some! It was also fun dressing the girls up for church in dresses that Auntie Cara bought them last year. They don't look like they were having much fun but it was their idea! They sure got a lot of compliments at Church too!

It was a wonderful long weekend with family!!! I want to do it again!!

Moving!!

I have not blogged about this yet, but some of you already know that we have to move to a different house. The owner of this house is going to be forclosed on if he does not sell it SOON! They will be putting the house up for auction in about 3 months. Anyway we found a new place to live and are moving Saturday! I can't believe I am doing this again! Once we found out we were moving all the things we did not like about this house were magnified. Like only having one bathroom with a tub only, not a real shower, sink and toilet, for 6 people! We have another tiny bathroom with just a toilet and sink. This house also does not get very warm.
The house we are moving to has 2 full baths!! One has double sinks! It also has a wood stove.

The house is also on 2 1/2 acers and our neighbors have sheep and llamas. It is about a mile and a half from our current place.I think we will like it!

Anyway Saturday is the big day! We get the keys tomorrow. We will not have the internet for possibly 2 weeks. I don't know if we will survive!! LOL!! But I will be back! I promise! Think of us Saturday!!

Life gets busy!

Hi all!! I am still here!! Let me say first if all that, I Love my job!! Working again has made life busier and more challenging, but I love being back in the medical world and helping people!! Figuring out how to get everything done at home is a trick, but I am getting a system worked out.

Two of our boys started soccer and are really happy about it, but that too adds to the busyness around here! It also makes for more expense because a lot of their games are off the island. (good thing I am working now!) So more driving and gas, but the boys are enjoying it and they needed that outlet AND we enjoy watching them!

Awhile back Cara did a family photo shoot for us! She did an AWESOME job! I know she shared some on her blog, but I wanted to share some more. I have them in my computer now!

For Sandra and Baby Hayden!

A baby boy
Author: Unknown

A baby boy was created

by the hand of God above

to give the world the sweetest touch

of tenderness and love.

With the softness of a whisper,God made a baby's skin

and then designed two trusting eyes

to put the starlight in.With giggles from a waterfall

and breezes passing by,God made a baby's laughter

and a tiny, sleepy sigh.

God made the world a precious gift

more dear and pure than gold,with little toes to play with and tiny hands to hold

then brought into the sunshine a precious baby boy

All wrapped up in a rainbow of wonder, hope, and joy.

-unknown author

Congratulations on the upcoming arrival of Hayden!!! Can't wait to see what this little man looks like!! I 'am still deciding on your gift! Please e-mail me your address! cmcpherson9@hotmail.com

You are a great Mom and you are really going to enjoy having a boy!!

Love Cheri

Random FUN!

I got a funny idea off a blog I read and decided to post it. You should try this for a good laugh. You just google your first name and then "needs". Then see what you come up with. It's for REAL what I came up with...

1. Cheri needs fluency..... probably in communicating to my kids (and hubby)!! Sometimes I think I am speaking another language!

2. Cheri needs positive thoughts today..... We all could use those!!

3. Cheri needs a good nights sleep....... Always!!! There are these "little" munchkins that "appear" in our bed, that are not so little any more and take up way more space than they used too and I wake up to send them back to their bed. Somehow they are back in the morning!!

4. Cheri needs volunteers..... Another thing we could all use!! How about one to watch my kids so I can run away with my hubby for a day and night!

5. Cheri updated Cheri's needs..... Did I?? They don't change much! I needed a job and got it!

6.Cheri needs to find another lable soon...... Hmmm? I did just add the lable of Medical Assistant recently and today was called "Lovely MA" at work!

7. Cheri needs to change her image...... Into what ? I'll have to think on that!

8. Cheri needs to only to cover the cost of shipping food... How about the cost of paying for food and driving it home!! The new job will help with that!!

9. Cheri needs the same connection they do.... I wonder what kind of connection? My cell phone could use better connection sometimes!

10. Cheri needs for a medication that slows progression..... Alot of things come to mind here! What would you like to slow the progression of?

11. Cheri needs to do some facial exercises.... Hmmm! It take more muscles to frown. I don't want to be doing that!


There you go!! Now try your name! I was fun!

So far work is going very well!! The lead MA is on vacation this week and I was left " alone" on Tuesday and Thursday! It sure helps to learn how things work in our office and I think I did pretty well. There was only one provider today so it was quieter and I stocked all the patient rooms. I had to go on a hunt to find things but I think I got it done. I'll have to ask my co-worker tomorrow how I did.

Looking forward to the weekend!!

NEWS

The big news here today is, I got a job!!! I have been "sorta" looking for awhile and the one that I think will work was offered to me today.

I was offered a job a few weeks ago, but the hours were not right. They wanted me to work 7 am- 6 pm 4 days a week. I felt that was a bit much to jump into from having not worked outside the home for 7 yrs. I also want to be here in the morning to send the kids off to school. They do not really have much of a memory of me working outside the home. When I did Grandma was there or their "Aunt" Kim or Daddy. Any way this will be a big change, but we could use the extra income and like I have said before when the kids are all at school I really get lonley here alone at home. I also LOVE being a Medical Assistant and am excited to get back into it!! I am nervous too, but one of the PA's I will be working for confided to me that I have more experience than any of their Medical Assistants currently employed there. Everyone was very nice and I hope I will be a good addition to their team.

The job I was offered will be in an Internal Medicen clinic working for one Dr. and two PA's. I will work Mon- Thur 8:30- 5. I start next Tuesday. It would have been Monday but the boys trip to help Auntie Awesome has turned into a family affair. We all wanted to see Cara and she says she could use my help too. I sure hope so , she does sooo much for us, I would like to give back!!!
Anyway we are excited to see her on Monday and then I start the new job on Tuesday.

My two older boys are going to watch the two younger kids while I work until school starts. I am going to pay them to make it worth their while and seem more like a job. They both are wanting to earn money. John will also be home just after 4 in the afternoon too.

Well I guess I have rambled on enough about that! Think of me Tuesday!! I will be nervous, but I am very excited!!

TOTALED!

Cara blogged about our accident, so for those of you who were curious I thought I would post some pictures of our car. They totaled it and we are now looking for a cheap replacement so we don't have a car payment.

We are all doing pretty well as far as aches and pains go. The last time I was in an accident was 1985. That one was my fault though. This one was NOT! Here are the pics!




Later I will post some pictures of our summer visitors. It has been pretty busy, but the rest of the summer will be pretty quiet!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY CARA!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY SWEET CARA BEAR!!!!!

Cara at her "real job", soon to be all day shifts!!

We Love You so very very much !!! You are an amazing, wonderful, giving, loving , AWESOME

soul!! You are every positive descriptive word in the dictionary!!

We Love Love Love YOU!!!! Have a special day even though you are working today!