Tackling the Trails

 Melia had a sports physical across town today. We also found out her pulmonary function test was A OK. That meant she is clear to MOVE...and move we did. I had told her to bring a raincoat and a pair of walking shoes.  I had an ambitious plan to hike 5 trails today. We would start at the one nearest the clinic and work our way home....

The trail meanders through the woods. It's paved, Disc golf nets are scattered throughout and we decided it would be a fun one for cross country skiing in the winter.  I noted the fireweed at each place - it really is pretty. It's also in fuller bloom up the mountains near us than at this trail. 

We stopped at Crevasse Moraine Trails down the road a way. This one brought back fond memories of getting drinks and breakfast to go and having Bible study with Stacia in the car here during the Covid shutdown. I showed the sledding hill to Melia should she want to sled this winter. 

Us with the fireweed

Matanuska River Trail is where Stacia and Melia most often went cross country skiing last winter. 

We were back in our stomping grounds as we climbed to the Lazy Mountain Trailhead. We did a bit of the trail and then we veered over to the Morgan Horse Trail. It was more to our liking. 

WHOA - a clearing with many options. We chose wisely.

Our final trail this afternoon was Pioneer Ridge Trail. Melia saw the sign and refused to try it. I should NOT have told her about the woman being mauled by bears or the moose that jumped across a man's trail being chased by a bear. 

Melia has one trail left and I have two trails left in the MatSu Burrough Trail Passport Challenge.  We have until the 19th to finish. If I don't have to do jury tomorrow, I plan to do a hike about 20 minutes away. 

I opened packages, made Chicken Pot Pie and worked on some kitchen projects. I asked a question and peeked around the corner when I didn't get an answer. 😂

I wore her out.

I think there is something in the air! ::snort:: 

A Lazy Sunday

 Our Sundays are slow and lazy as we've not been keeping with any of our Sunday routines since Mike's back surgery. Melia was in town with her sister and her foster family. The house was quiet. Michael was resting, Allie was busy with phone calls and such in her room. I decided I needed to go for a walk. 

I crossed another trail off the list. Walking alone is a great way to process and think and pray. I decided I wasn't done walking and stopped to visit Josiah and walk another mile. 

Michael and Allie didn't feel like eating much. 

I rested. 

Stacia came home and we drove the van over to the mechanics so I don't have to worry about those logistics on a Monday morning which may include jury duty. We stopped by the grocery store and picked up some produce, milk and ice cream - the necessities. 

I am freeze drying eggs so I got another load ready to freeze dry tomorrow. I also put a variety of produce in the freezer to freeze dry later on. 

Melia came home and we sat around and heard about her visit. Then the five of us had ice cream. 

I tried to help Stacia set up a new phone. We are running into glitches and will try again at 0600. Michael DID get Dad's new phone set up and now I need to transfer numbers for him to the new phone....and then take it to him. 

It's 11:25 p.m. and I better get some sleep before trying to figure out the new phone. 

It's been a good day. 

A Spectacular Saturday

 Arielle has been working on the MatSu Burrough Trails Passport challenge all summer. Melia and I have been meaning to work on it but have mostly been doing the same trail over and over.  We suddenly realize we have 10 days to do 8 more trails....

This morning Melia got up early and joined Arielle, Benny, Danny and Ellie and me to hike the Settler's Bay Coastal Trail. Charles doesn't like hiking and had other activities planned for the day.  I had visions of hiking along the coast line....but it took us 31/2 - 4 miles of hiking (according to my watch)....

Benny, Melia, me, Danny, Arielle, Ellie

... up and down the trails below to reach this scenic outlook. 

We hiked around various trails and found ourselves back at Arielle's van twice without finding anything we would count as a "scenic outlook."  We did find rabbits, a ptarmigan and many moths, bees and flies...and we enjoyed the SUNSHINE, the light breeze, the company....

If you've read the blog long you KNOW the fireweed are our indicator that winter is on the way. The fireweed in OUR YARD has not begun to bloom yet. These are about half bloomed....

Check out Ellie's open mouth...

This bench makes me want to contact "someone" and see about having a few with Josiah's names placed around various trails. 

We were about to pack it in and go home when a gentleman pulled in. I went up and asked him if he hiked these trails often. He did. I asked him WHERE the scenic outlook is....out our parking lot, across the street and a very short walk... about 1/10th of a mile....and we found the pretty views. 

Note Ellie - the little ginger head bobbing about mid-picture. She loved running ahead...and as there hadn't been other folks on the trail we let her go. 

Ellie and I got in a little race. She caught up to me and motioned that she wanted me to bend down. She filled my pockets with big rocks. She's a thinker than one. 

It was good for body, soul and spirit to get out and hike today. I loved sitting on a bench with Benny and listening to the wind blowing in the leaves. Of course, the others did catch up to us...and then there were other fun things to listen too. I don't worry about bears when hiking with the kids. They warn the critters away.  Thank you so much for the invite, Arielle. Melia and I are determined to see how MANY of the remaining 7 trails we can fit in before the 19th. 

Allie worked today. She was gone we got home. Stacia joined Melia and I for our first Reuben Haus meal of the season. It was the perfect day for it - and it made us nostalgic for Luke and Krista. 

Stacia had an engagement and left us after a quick run to Bishop Attic. Melia is spending the night with Akemi, her younger sister.

I made a double batch of Kim's Golden Honey Granola (though I added some almond extract). I made a double batch last week and Melia and I finished it today. I have made a LOT of different granolas through the years, but THIS one is the crunch I've been searching for - I think it's the baking powder. 

Michael is having new aches and pains post-surgery. He is staying down. Allie, Stacia and I are heading for the hot tub. 

What a WEEK!!!!!

Some weeks are predictable. Other weeks are NOT. 

My week began with a summons to the courthouse for jury duty. This was predictable.  I was selected to be interviewed. I couldn't pay attention because this was the very week we were in court last year for the sentencing of our son's murderer. I was having a hard time paying attention as my mind wandered back a year. I was honest and realized my bias against the public defender. As the questioning went on and I answered honestly several jurors teared up, several court officials had tears, and I figured I would be dismissed. It was iced when I was asked why I was biased against the public defender. What a question! 

"Well, it was my experience the only person in the process who was allowed to say things without proof or correction was the public defender." In the aforementioned trial things were said about our son with no proof, in direct contrast to evidence and it was ok as the defender is allowed to "provide a defense."  They let me go late in the afternoon. I do have to call every night for the next two weeks to see if my services are needed.  

I raced to the post office and the grocery store. As I pulled into the parking space things lit up in the van. I was GLAD I was pulling into a spot. Michael can't bail me out - he's home recovering. I turned the car off, bought groceries and tried to go home. 

click...click...click

Cory and Allie rescued me. Allie brought the code reader and took groceries home. Cory read the codes and learned I needed to buy a new battery. He drove me to Napa and we got the new battery installed. I was off and running. 

Tuesday, I ran errands and tended to Michael. He began to have new pain. 

Wednesday, I took Melia to volleyball practice and as we came home all those lights popped up again. I was still able to control the vehicle. I was so close to be home and didn't want to be stranded again. More lights blinked on. The screen that usually tells my gas mileage and usage popped on "Brake system failure, call dealer" and then "VSC failure call dealer immediately."   By the time I got home the gas pedal was the only thinking working on the van.  

This wouldn't normally be a problem, but the truck's brakes need repaired. Michael bought the parts to do the job and then was told not to twist, lift etc....he didn't get to it before surgery.  This means I have no working vehicle. The mechanic cannot get to the van until Monday.  

Wednesday afternoon Cory came over and moved all the RV batteries to the RV as they are too heavy for Michael to be moving just now. 

We stayed home Thursday...rested, took care of Michael. 

 Melia had an optometry appointment, and we added a visit to her baby sister Amika. Allie volunteered the use of her car.  Just as we turned onto the final road to the Bentah Nuutah clinic, I heard a loud grinding noise, and the car began to violently shake.  There has been talk of struts needing to be repaired. I thought maybe a strut had fallen out....don't.judge.me.  (but you can laugh).  I checked under the car, around the car and couldn't figure out the problem. I alerted Allie and Michael at home and went into Melia's appointment. Melia sported cool shades for a couple of hours. We ordered a pair of glasses for Melia. We discovered braces and glasses aren't paid for by the clinic. That's o.k. The care has been such a blessing to us. 

As we crossed the parking lot, I was able to see the problem. Allie's tire had exploded and it was flat! I was game to change the tire, but the tools and jack weren't in the car. We cancelled our visit to Amika. 

Nolan picked up Allie and the tools and came to our rescue!

Are you counting? This is the third vehicle break down in ONE WEEK that *I* was in....when we got home, I was surprised to see this! What an amazingly welcome sight! Dillon and Kylee are the new leads for the Palmer campus of ACF, our church. They had repeatedly asked us to let them know if we needed help and had offered to bring groceries, pick things up for us, and all sorts of things. We kept saying we were fine, we are pretty self-sufficient with all the kids around. ::grin:: 

Finally, on Thursday night, with both our vehicles down when Dillon asked if there was anything he could do I asked if he could change the brakes on a truck. He showed up! While Dillon worked, we visited with Kylee. 

CoRielle dropped the grands off for their 2 hours with Bachan and Melia. When they came back, they mowed our yard. 

The girls went off with Jared to the Bear Paw Festival. 

We started the fire and prepped for s'mores. It was a small group this week, but the fellowship was meaningful. It has been nice to meet this summer in smaller groups around the fire with no pre-planned discussion. This week Rebekah, Aran and John came...oh and Runa! Isn't she a doll? 

She is John's riding partner. 

We had no clue Aran was a fire chef! I mean he can COOK in that fire. We also have a fire chief in our group....but anyway Aran prepared corn, Brauts, and apples and we didn't even open the s'more kit. LOL  The girls got back from the festival and Melia was able to check in with all of us.  It was a nice ended to a very hectic week!

In the midst of an unpredictable week, we were blessed by kids, Dillon and Kylee and our life group members. They showed up. They.showed.up. and healing is growing in community. 

Friday Night at the Bear Paw Festival

Jared showed up this afternoon and whisked the girls away to the Eagle River Bear Paw Festival. Larissa and Noah met up with them. I was glad they got to go. Michael isn't up to walking and crowds.

Last year we walked in the Bear Paw parade with Jared's campaign. We were too tired to join the fun. They made up for that this year. Jared will be running in the 5K and manning a booth or something on the other two days so this is a great opportunity for simple family fun! 

Stacia, Melia, Allie, Jared and Noah 

Ah, the wonder! Seen through Noah's eyes. 

Not quite tall enough - but he was allowed on with Jared

Jared, Noah, Allie

Stacia, Melia

It's always a bit odd to be out and about with Jared when he is recognized. Fun - just surprising.  Melia's sister currently lives with our former medical provider. She met up with everyone to hang out a bit. 

Note - I didn't take any of these photos. Thanks to Larissa, Jared, Stacia and Melia for sharing photos. 

Michael's Back Surgery

 I don't have a single photo for this post but as I attempt to recapture the time I realize I haven't mentioned Michael's back surgery.

Michael has arthritis in his spine. He developed two cysts in the same spaces as the arthritis. This has led to constant nerve pain of varying degrees for the past 6 months or so. He has had pain for YEARS and the VA sent him to a chiropractor - which he has done weekly for at least 4 years. They said they don't want to do back surgeries on men his age...wanted him to be at least 70. You can see where I'm going. The back pain has been constant for 4 years. He was getting aligned weekly. I slowly realized that where he used to have bad days after he was active now,  he wasn't moving around much at all. He basically has been in his recliner and was in pain if he did ANYTHING. 

He went back to the VA. There is a new primary doc. She sent him for an x-ray. They also sent him to PT.  Then he was referred for an MRI and to the civilian orthopedic in the valley. They quickly noted the problem. They said no amount of chiropractic alignments or PT would help. The cysts and arthritis had created a situation where his nerves were compressed...all the time. He was told not to twist, walk, lift and to wait for the VA to approve surgery.  

It took several weeks to get the initial VA approval, then he needed to be cleared by the cardiologist, then someone else...he attended two pre-op appointments and then the day before surgery we were notified the VA wouldn't let the surgeon give him a brace so we had to drive to Anchorage to get the brace from the company they would pay. 

Finally, on the 2nd of July, Michael had back surgery. It was to be two incisions. They would cut the top off a bone to allow more space for nerves, and they would remove both cysts. There was nothing they can do about the arthritis. 

I waited past the time they said he would be in surgery. 

The surgeon called to let me know that they were having trouble with Michael excessively bleeding. They had "thrown everything we have at it" and got it to stop. They had sewn him back up. They were 1/2 done. They were not comfortable making the 2nd incision to do the same thing in the other spot.   

We will have to see how much relief he gets from 1/2 the surgery and determine if he will do another surgery when he recovers from this. 

We came home with meds and ZOFRAN. We were sure we'd avoid the horrendous vomiting that usually accompanies Michael's surgery. We didn't.  He was pretty miserable with back pain, throwing up and dizziness...and we had a "control slide" which ended up with him face down on the floor. We were a mess. He didn't want me to call the kids (out at a movie night at BreZac's) or any of the guys to help me lift him. He was sure we could do it...and we did. 

He can't drive for 6 weeks, maybe 3. 

He is still in pain. . . new pain. 

I'm writing this on the 11th and he has new pain yesterday and today...his LEGS are bothering him. He says this is to be expected. I'm not sure. BUT he's doing better than he was on the 2nd. 

The kids have been great help. We have hunkered down and focused on Michael recovering.