Grandson Casey Willis

Grandson Casey Willis
Casey plays the clarinet at a school concert.

Sunday, February 15, 2009

Long Time Since Last Entry

It's been way too long since the last time I blogged. A lot has happened since then, but unfortunately I can't remember everything. So I will just write some random thoughts that are not particularly in chronological order.

After Christmas Gary and I went to Taylor to visit Summer and kids and Ryan and Amy and their four little boys. We took some gifts to all. I enjoy so much watching the little ones open gifts and watch the expressions on their faces. Christmas is always more fun when there are children to share it with. We had a great time visiting with all of them.

I, especially, enjoy the Holidays because I get a two break from school. Even though I spend some of the time preparing for school, it is nice to have some time without thinking about it.

For New Years we didn't do anything special. Watched a movie and went to bed by 10. I am getting too old to stay up late any more.

Recently Gary had a nose bleed that wouldn't stop. He is on blood thinning medicine. Early one morning, around 2:00 A.M.,his nose started bleeding. It wouldn't stop. He called his doctor about 7 A.M. Doc told him to go to emergency room. I went on to school. Brian took him to the ER at Banner Baywood. (Thanks, Brian). They packed one side of his nose, made some recommendations and sent him home. I went home from school about 5 P.M. I found Gary in the bathroom hunched over a waste basket with his nose bleeding again. The packing had come out and hadn't done much good. By now he had blood running down his throat as well as out his nose. Since he was feel nauseated and about to pass out, I called 911. Our neighborhood could use a little excitement. Paramedics came and transported him to ER. By the time we left the house we had 5 or 6 concerned neighbors at our house to see what they could do to help. We live in a great neighbor hood!

After 2-3 hours at the ER, we went home with both of his nostrils packed, more recommendations and a perscription for a strong antibiotic because of the blood that he had swallowed. He had to keep his nose packed for 48 hours, then return to ER to get it unpacked. Well, finally, all is back to normal and he is doing fine. But it was a little scarey for a while. While all this was going on with the paramedics, Liesl was asleep downstairs. She never knew anything was happening. I knocked on her door to let her know we were going to the ER, but couldn't rouse her. I called her later while at the ER to let her know where we were. The basement is a pretty quiet place.

Gary and I were teaching primary for the last year. We were just recently released. I have been called to teach in Relief Society, the 4th week. We really enjoyed teaching primary, but I am with kids of the same age all week. I was telling my school assisstant that even though I liked teaching primary sometimes it would be nice to have a church job where I didn't have to teach the same age kids that I teach every day of the week. I was telling her this just 2 or 3 days before our neighbor, the 1st councilor in the bishopric, came over and called me to teach in the RS. The lesson I learned from this is you better be careful what you want, you just may get it. Now I have to stand up in front of all these women who are way more knowledgable in the Gospel than I. Many of them are wives of mission presidents, former bishops, stake presidents, temple presidents. Our ward is made up of lots of former presidents and/or bishops. It's awesome. I feel pretty inadequate giving them a lesson. One great thing about it, however, is that they participate really well. Their discussion nearly gives the whole lesson.