Yikes!

Tomorrow 's the day. Two of my sisters have already been through it this summer. I'm hoping for the endoscopic kind. The hospital just called and I don't have to be there until noon! I can't eat or drink after midnight tonight! I am going to be SO thirsty! What am I going to do all morning long?? Maybe go see "The Dark Knight"? Nope -- it doesn't start until 10:05 and runs 152 minutes. But then who would want to sit through a movie without a drink? Mamma Mia doesn't start until 11:05 so that one is out, too. I guess I could go into work for 3 hours. Nah. Any other ideas???

If you want to read about the surgery read on -- if not then skip it.

"Open release surgery, the traditional procedure used to correct carpal tunnel syndrome, consists of making an incision up to 2 inches in the wrist and then cutting the carpal ligament to enlarge the carpal tunnel. The procedure is generally done under local anesthesia on an outpatient basis, unless there are unusual medical considerations.

"Endoscopic surgery may allow faster functional recovery and less postoperative discomfort than traditional open release surgery. The surgeon makes two incisions (about ½" each) in the wrist and palm, inserts a camera attached to a tube, observes the tissue on a screen, and cuts the carpal ligament (the tissue that holds joints together). This two-portal endoscopic surgery, generally performed under local anesthesia, is effective and minimizes scarring and scar tenderness, if any. One-portal endoscopic surgery for carpal tunnel syndrome is also available.

"Although symptoms may be relieved immediately after surgery, full recovery from carpal tunnel surgery can take months. Some patients may have infection, nerve damage, stiffness, and pain at the scar. Occasionally the wrist loses strength because the carpal ligament is cut. Patients should undergo physical therapy after surgery to restore wrist strength. Some patients may need to adjust job duties or even change jobs after recovery from surgery.

"Recurrence of carpal tunnel syndrome following treatment is rare. The majority of patients recover completely." Yea! I'm counting on being one of the majority!!

What a wonderful week we had at Snowbird! Every minute was packed with something fun!

That's a bunch of super grandkids!

Too many pictures to blog! Visit my picasa album to see the rest! http://picasaweb.google.com/agthayne/Snowbird08

Emily and I had so much fun at Stadium of Fire. Our seats were great.

It started with the parachuters.

Despite the breeze, they all landed on target -- unlike the year when one guy came into the seats right over our heads and landed 5 rows behind us. Ouch! I'll never forget the look of terror on his face and the sound when he hit the steel bleachers.

Glen Beck's patriotic speech was really good. He talked about the meanings of the colors of the flag while these banners unrolled from the top of the north endzone.

Then servicemen unfurled the huge flag . . .

and the jets did a fly by. Wow! So cool!

The Blue Man Group were really funny.

Then came Miley. All of the little girls were dancing in the aisles.

Topped off by a fantastic fireworks show. We were so close we got showered with the debris. It was really exciting.

Freedom Festival

I love the 4th of July in Provo. When we lived back east I would try to arrange vacations to be in Provo for the 4th. There's just no other place like it and I wanted my kids to experience the fun. I still love it. Usually it's a beautiful hot day but one year when the kids were little it was very, very cold and rainy. Of course coming to Utah in July we didn't bring coats so we had to stop at Allen's and buy large garbage bags to make ponchos by cutting holes to stick our heads through. It even snowed at Snowbird on the 4th that year.

This year was really fun -- Chris, Ryan, and their families and Emily were here with us.

And now we have sweet Mya and cute Jayson, too.

And Melissa's mother Ruby and sister Rebecca with her baby Charlotte were here, too. Of course we can't have a parade without the big bowl of caramel popcorn.

She's Official -- and Forever!

It's official!! On Wednesday, July 2, our former Provo next door neighbor/home teacher/good friend Judge Lynn Davis declared that Mya is officially adopted! It was a wonderful experience!

On Thursday, July 3, Mya was sealed to her parents and brother in the Mt. Timpanogos Temple. What joy! She's a beautiful little girl and it's so wonderful to have her in the family forever.

How grateful I am that all of my children were able to be together in the temple for the sealing. "I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth." (3 John 1:4) It didn't seem possible that Jeremy and Jamie would be able to come but things fell into place and they were here! They wanted to surprise everyone so I kept it a secret (except for Grant) for a month! What a tender time!

THE PROPHET SHOOK MY HAND!!!

Here is Pres. Monson just before he shook my hand.

I had a great 2nd row seat for the dedication of the new UVU Library. Next to Pres. Monson was Senator Orrin Hatch and next to him was Senator Bob Bennett. Senator Bennett shook my hand, too. I had already shaken Orrin Hatch's hand at Sundance in 1996 -- I'm sure he remembered it well.

Pres. Monson spoke a few words and then gave the dedicatory prayer for the new library.


It was so awesome to be this close to Pres. Monson. A reporter from the UVU newspaper interviewed me because I got to shake his hand. Wow. I'll have to watch for that article! What a journal entry day this was!