February 21, 2008 at 07:49 PM MST

Hi, folks. Long time between updates, but now there is something to update!
Cam has finally gotten his pain meds where he can handle things each day. The electrical zingers right now are seeming to be so much stronger in his chest that it literally takes his breath away. He can sleep pretty well on his stomach most of the night, then turns on his side, and then his back after his morning meds. He can crawl pretty well now. He got a massive sore where some latex rubbed on his leg, so hasn't been able to get up on his leg braces for quite awhile. It has finally healed all the way this past week.
SURGERY HAS BEEN SCHEDULED FOR MARCH 28! FINALLY, HE HAS A LIGHT AT THE END OF THIS LONG TUNNEL. He has been bugging the surgeon's office for 3 months. We got an appointment last October for January, and then they said that it wasn't in the system. Wrong thing to say to someone in pain. He got another one for next week, but after calling the PA every day until he called back, the x-rays finally got onto the surgeon's desk, and he said Cam's back is stable enough to have the titanium rods out. Boy, that is such a relief to us.
He is able to do so much more now. He actually has shoveled snow after a storm. He builds fires in the wood-burning stove, cooks, can't wash dishes because he can't get to the sink, but he puts the dishes away after the kids wash them. He helps me out everyday with the kids for home-school. I am teaching my son and granddaughter here now. They were struggling so much in mainstream. It's a really new experience for all of us, but we are slowly getting into a routine. Probably too slowly, but getting there! Anybody else out there doing the same thing?
Well, that's the update for now. Things will pick up right before the surgery.
Love,
Sharon

September 27, 2007 at 08:29 AM MDT

I decided to write this in the morning when I am still more partially awake than at midnight. Maybe I'm a night owl and don't know it.
Cam has been having more ups than downs, but this past week has been a little rough. He has tried some new meds for the spasms, and one of them seems to be helping without too much in the way of side-effects. One of the ones he tried immediately made him nauseous, but we didn't figure the cause out until the third time he took it. He's had the flu, so we thought it was the cause. Now we know, and he doesn't take it anymore. The other one does pretty well. He does have to make sure that he doesn't have an empty stomach. Yesterday he didn't have food in the tummy, so he waited too long to take his pain killers and was hurting all day long. I gave him a couple of long massages, and that helped a little bit. It's so hard to see the pain etched in his face, and watch him try to smile through it. The smile doesn't reach his eyes, and that hurts me. So, we have become a couple of fakers, me trying to convince him everything is great, and him trying to convince ME that he's doing better with his pain. Since we both know what the other is doing, I guess it works. Fake it 'til you make it, is my new motto. I'll let you know when we make it.
Good stuff since last posting:
My oldest daughter moved back here!

Erica REALLY got engaged and is getting married November 23 and having a reception here in December.

I'm beginning to feel like singing and writing poetry again.

My kids have been coming over daily to help me over my senior moments and they rearranged my living room (I'm getting used to it, guys!)

I turned the heater on for the first time yesterday. Well, that's not good, but it felt toasty and nice.

I made 7 quarts of salsa from our garden veggies.

I got 16 quarts of peach nectar put up.
I got most of my laundry folded :)

I found my cable to my camera so I could download my pictures.

I found the pictures in a file on my computer after searching for 30 minutes.

A new adopted grandbaby was born yesterday afternoon. Including all "adopted" children, we have been given about 35 grand children, 21 of them are our originals .


Those are just some highlights. Sounds to me like I live a boring life. Gotta work on that.....
Cam's spirits are pretty good each day. We just keep talking about what he is learning and teaching others by his great attitude. He has had some scary moments when he just can't think of what he wants to say, and it isn't just a senior moment for him. I think that bump on the head meeting the tree did more than we originally thought. He did have a fractured skull, but that was no big surprise. We are watching closely!
Wishing all of you a happy day, and a productive one. I will be having one, and maybe even sneak a nap in this afternoon. I can fit it in between the lunch meeting and parent/teacher conference for Jacob. Then again, I will just think about a nap and see if I'm less tired afterwards. Might work!

Thanks for your continued support and love for us. It means more than you can know.

Sharon

September 06, 2007 at 09:46 PM MDT
What a lovely day this has been! First, our daughter and her fiance Ryan (they DID look at rings today) came over this morning to visit after their holiday in New York and before returning to BYU Idaho tonight. Cam sings twice a month at a Senior retirement place, and today was one of those days. Erica (above daughter) sang with him, and then Ryan joined in. We ate with my Mom afterwards and my Aunt Lyla. Then we went to the doctor and got some meds for Cam's spasms. We hope it will work well for him. They are knocking him around like crazy (the spasms, not the meds).
The weather was wonderful, and things in the car didn't melt. We've had plenty of rain, which watered the garden, which is making our tomatoes and peppers grow and ripen. We had a friend bring over some produce that she and her husband couldn't eat, and which we WILL eat. Cam's niece Brooke, her husband Mike, and Mike's sister Allison came over and visited. Meredith and Jake were here, too. Just like so often lately, we had a full house of laughter and love. Jacob got the dance shoes he's been waiting for, and they fit like a glove. The plums are ripe and delicious. Cam got measured for leg braces yesterday.
On the not-so-good side, my daughter left her phone in a bathroom 2 1/2 hours away while she took her son to get picked up by his father, Cam lost HIS phone, my son's cat ran away, my other daughter, husband and granddaughter were in an accident and rear-ended last night. I found a grasshopper under a chair (no big shocker there...), we made arrangements to have some friends over for dinner last night on Sunday, and I totally spaced it, not being ready at all (thank you for understanding, Amanda and Landon. We still owe you dessert!), and I'm tired (no big shocker there, either!).
Still, there's another tomorrow, as far as I know, and I am looking forward to enjoying IT, too! I'm so grateful for friends and family, and my faith in loving Father who cares for and about all of us. So many others have more to deal with than we do, and with all the complaints I dish out, I really am thankful to be alive!
Take care and have a great day tomorrow (today if you read this in the morning).

We love you and thank you for caring!
Sharon

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September 03, 2007 at 10:26 PM MDT
All of you left out there, thank you for still caring. I know that everyone's life goes on. Ours is pretty much the same with a few changes.
Cam can now feel touch when I massage his lower back (sacrum area) as of 4 days ago. That is so good considering it was only the outside of his ribs and his shoulders and arms before. We are still trying to find ways to short-circuit the zingers he gets daily.
He is still going strong with Toastmasters and enjoying it very much. We are working with several people to do a televised showcase of Utah talent. We will get some well-known performers, and then give those with talent, and no where to show it off, a place to kick up their heels, or whatever it is that they do. Our second meeting is on Wednesday, and we are getting excited about it. We saw a couple of the performers on stage tonight. They were great!
Going to bed before I fall over onto the floor. Hope everyone had a great Labor day. May we all live to see many more of the same!
Have a great day today, all.

With love and appreciation,
Sharon

August 23, 2007 at 11:36 PM MDT
Don't know why I choose to write these so late when my mind is hibernating......
Things have been up and down lately. Hey, we must be alive like the rest of you are. Roller-coasters seem to be the norm. So, we take one day at a time in 10 minute increments and move forward!
We found a good thing called Kangen water, which is alkaline water from an expensive machine. It really has helped Cam when he is able to drink it. We get ours from a friend. Cam's pain killers work faster, and he doesn't need as many, it seems. We'll keep using it until we die or our friends get tired of sharing, whichever comes first!
Cam is not going to therapy this month. The head weight-lifter is going on vacation for 10 days, and financial resources are very tight right now, so we need to save up for next month. Cam started a job today, and hopefully that will take care of us AND therapy. It is expensive, and now he gets braces in October, which are going to cost between $6,000 and $8,000. That's a high number...
My daughter is here with her kids now from Tennessee. WE are thrilled. Her hubby comes next week to start his new job. All my kids are here now, so we have lots of grandkids running all over the place.
My cat's new record is 5 hummingbirds. I can now tell, without looking when she has caught another one and brought it into the house. She has a chirpy meow, which she makes through a full mouth. She is so proud to bring me her gift. I take it outside, and she brings it back in. I usually win, however.
Well, guys, it’s late and I am tired. I feel like something exciting is about to happen, and I like the feeling. It makes for a better today! We thank the good Lord for all the doors He is opening for us. We are truly blessed. Thank you for being a part of our lives and caring so much!
We love you.

Sharon

August 08, 2007 at 11:00 PM MDT
Well, here I am again. My cat caught another little hummingbird, only this one wasn't as lucky. A second cat got it, and I found it under the couch. It lived for 24 hours, then died in my hand. So sad. It would sit on my finger and flap its little wings and make peeping noises. Too much excitement for it, I guess.
Cam is still trying to spread his wings and get his drumsticks working. We go to the gym often and he works on his core muscles and uses the dry and wet saunas. They have yet to get the lift for him to get into the pool or jacuzzi. They said it is on the way.
He is cutting WAY down on medication, maybe 4-5 per day instead of 8. We are working on the emotional part of it, too, and that is really helping a lot. Amazing what anger, resentment and unforgiveness can do to one's soul and back muscles. Sounds crazy, but it's true. I won't go into what we are doing because I don't want you to think me whacko-er than you might already think I am. So, suffice it to say it's working and that's what counts.
My teethlessness is healing. There are some sore spots all around, but it is getting better. I can eat when the teeth aren't in my mouth, but I don't do well with bread or tortillas. Quiche goes down pretty well!
My daughter is moving for sure from Memphis to Provo. We are so jazzed I can't even say. My son is going to help next week, and then they are here. My son-in-law has a job with the State now. His parents moved here last month, and we ran into his dad at the gym tonight. Fun!
Things are going well for us, and there is hope for the future even if we can't see around the turn of the mountain in our way. Faith can work miracles, and we are expectant every day.
Pray for the miners, please. I can't even imagine being that far underground, and not having people know if I'm dead or alive. Pray for their families, too.

Love you all for your love and support.

Sharon

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August 01, 2007 at 10:59 PM MDT
Here's a story I posted on www.quantumtouch.com under "messages" and healing stories.
A few minutes ago my cat brought me a very large grasshopper. She let it go at me feet and I noted a very long beak. Whoa, it was a beautiful hummingbird! I grabbed it while Tiki meowed mournfully and threw her outside, thanking her for her "gift" to me. The poor little bird was terrified, with good reason. Its heartbeat was soooo fast. Green and orange shimmering, I took a picture of it. It just lay there in my open hand. I showed it to my neighbor girls, then started QT in earnest (I named it Earnest ). His heartbeat slowed down tremendously and he lay on his side. I thought he'd died, but no, he was gathering energy. I gave him some sugar water, baptizing him generously and accidentally, then took him outside. I held him for a moment more, then opened my hands. He took off like a rocket, chirping his thanks, and never looked back. What I'd like to know is, how did my cat grab a hummingbird, and why couldn't the bird take the time to pose for an after picture so I could post it? Oh, well, a joyful event nonetheless! Go QT!
If I did it right, here's his picture:
http://quantumtouch.groupee.net/eve/forums?a=albumtopic...1058932&f=6901071811

Sharon

Want to know what Quantum touch is? wonderful, that's what! Look it up and you will see why I love it.

Ok, Cam has been doing well. Last month when he put an article in a newsletter, without thinking about it, he wrote "let the battles begin". Well, they did. This month he put that things are more relaxed for him, and gentle. They are. We went to the gym and he used the sit-up machine. I don't know what part of his body got the biggest work-out, but he's sore today. He is taking his meds farther apart. We are trying to wean him slowly. Hard work!
I am really tired tonight, so I will end this little story now. Anyone still out there? Good.
Sleep well? Hope so, for all of us.
Love,
Sharon

July 30, 2007 at 09:32 PM MDT
I decided to write this in word perfect tonight. The last one blipped out on me again, and it was a long one. Dang!
The last week has been rough. Cam’s pain control has been up and down all over the place. If he gets relaxed sleep, he can have some pain and still be ok. We went to a new doctor on Friday because his other doctor (surgeon) decided that he would not give him pain-killers anymore. The new guy was ill, and told Cam that he was going to cut his pills in half. That was some relief-NOT. Wow. We are trying to find the happy medium here. Maybe we SHOULD find a medium, then she could tell us what to do……..
The past few days, he has had a stabbing pain from his left shoulder blade right through his chest. It took him 1½ hours to move 30 feet, and 45 minutes to move 20 feet the other direction. I moved the chair for him because he was told to be out at a certain time, and would never have made it. Hope tonight is a good one for all of us!
Our new home rebuild has been postponed until March 2008. I am sad about that, and relieved in a way at the same time. Strange feelings, them! I still have so much to do, and I fear I would not have made it for August feeling the way I do. August is in 2 days. WOW!
My mouth is very sore tonight. I don’t like having strange plastic in there, and neither does my tongue. The dentist and others have told me that it takes about 2 weeks for the newness to go away. At least the tooth sockets are doing nicely. I have been using comfrey ointment that I made myself. It is very healing and soothing. That’s a big blessing.
My daughter Holly fell through her deck railing four feet onto the rocks below, and messed up her knee. I did a test, and believe she broke her kneecap. The doctor says there is too much swelling yet to tell, and will do an MRI on Friday to make sure of the diagnosis. She is on crutches and the doctor told her to stay in bed. He’s quite the comedian, her with 5 little kids to chase around!
So many challenges going on in the family, and only heaven knows what we can do. Please keep up in your prayers, strong prayers.
We love you!

Sharon

July 19, 2007 at 12:05 AM MDT

Hi, Guys!
Just a short note tonight as I need to hit the hay. That might be a little pokie.....
Anyway, Cam is finally taking his medication, and discovered that it's better in the long run to not hurt so badly and be able to get something done! It makes it easier on those around him, also.
He is doing well in therapy. He is balancing on 2-point, or on his knees holding on to something. He tried the half-canes, and was able to move his knee slightly. Today he crawled around the gym 3 times. Two weeks ago he could only do one lap and was exhausted. Now he wheels himself home nine blocks afterwards. He went to Toastmasters right after, then crawled around home for awhile. He fell onto his floor pads (with a pillow and blanket), and I crawled into bed, where I belong right now.

I have much hope for the future. It seems like we are going in very slow motion, like a dream where you can't speed anything up and talk at 33 rpm instead of 78. Patience is the key word here.

We have been given the news that our home makeover may not happen until next year. Very frustrating for me. I don't know whether to take the time to do little improvements and enjoy them, or wait and hope things go more quickly than expected! I hate indecision, but I'll figure that out later :)

I have a Thai pork roast in the crockpot, and we will enjoy it tomorrow. It is smelling very yummy..........

Jake is loving his dancing. He thought he had rehearsal all week and was so excited, but then he found it was only on Friday. I had to buy him an ice cream cone and me a hot fudge sundae to assuage the pain. I know, it was a big sacrifice on my part, but I AM a good mother. I don't like to see my little guy suffer alone. Besides, I only ate the whipped cream and the nuts along with the top layer of ice cream and hot fudge. I gave the REST to Cameron so he could share in Jake's disappointment. I'm a good WIFE, too! Give me SOME credit here.

Meredith is practicing again for Drill team, and is getting very sore. Then the poor kid has to go to work as a waitress and be on her feet all night. OW. She says that she enjoys the pain. Hmmmmmmmmmm.....

I am not so tired lately, except when I babysit for my grandkids and my daughters (and granddaughter Crystal) and I talk outside in the warm wind for 1/2 hour. DUMB and fun at the same time, dumb because I have to get up with less sleep, and fun cuz I love my daughters (and granddaughter Crystal)!

Ok, now I am going to brush my teeth, and go to bed. Next Monday I am going to get lots of MAJOR dental work done, and I am very nervous that I will not be able to do what Cam needs daily. Keep me in your prayers, too, please!

Goodnight, and thank you for your love and concern and prayers, and especially for reading this and leaving your comments. They mean so much!
Love you all,
Sharon