We Love Road Trips!! September 2008

Alrighty so here is a blog I've been needing to post among others that will be posted here shortly! My sister Ashley as well as my daughter Kenzie and I drove up (from Layton,UT- home sweet home) to Oregon and Washington for a little road trip- vacation- get away! We stopped in the Portland, OR area to see my friend Ninna and her kids (Caitlynn, Austin, Levi and Timber) first. We grabbed some grub after hanging out at their place for a bit and then we all went to a park near by to play!

Then we headed up to the Tacoma, WA area (Puyallup) and got to stay in a Holiday Inn Hotel for cheap (or free can't remember now) thanks to Ashley working at one down here. (Very Nice since I drove the whole 12 hr.s up! Lol)
The next day we went to a Classic Fun Center (WAYY Better than ours here!) that was pretty much a GIGANTIC arcade and play area for kids (and big kids). Outdoors there were mini golf courses, a few rides and go-karting tracks! We did it all pretty much! My go-kart was kind of slow though, darn it!! :( Ashley won like a gazillion tickets thanks to her winning a jackpot at one of the arcade games! (1,000 to 2,000)



We also went to our favorite mall up there where they have a merry-go-round inside and sell Sour Apple Cotton Candy that we love! (In the picture by my friend Evan, who we also went up to see, I'm lovin' the cotton candy!)


In a shoe store we all tried on a bunch of different hats. We love hats! It was great fun!






The rest of the time (we were only up there for the weekend) we stayed at my Aunt Jan's and Uncle Mark's (Love 'em) in Maple Valley. They are so awesome! We even came up the year before to see them! (and Ninna and her family too- though now she's back in Utah, Yippie!)


Below is a picture of my Aunt and Uncle's Ol' pup Rambo and my cousin Meagan's new pup Laslo! They're so fun and adorable!

Here is a picture of Washington that we took on our way headed back home! Green and Gorgeous!

Sorry there aren't any pictures of my friend Ninna and her lil ones nor of my Aunt, Uncle and cousin Meagan. (My other cousin Scott is in the Navy far away so we missed him - same with when we came up the year before. )

Post Heart Surgery

Ok so here I am to blog again! Hooray I am doing it! It is late but that's ok! I had my heart surgery 3 weeks ago today (later in afternoon)! Everything went well. The only thing I remember after is having this huge tube down my throat (it was breathing for me) and about to have a panic attack cause I thought it was in my way to breath!! SO I kept pointing at it and trying to move it over though they kept saying don't take it out!! I just wanted to move it to breath ! I guess my breathing and the machine trying to for me wasn't going so well so they finally took it out. Sheesh! Then I don't remember much until a little while later.
I stayed in the hospital for 5 days and did better than most that have this surgery more than likely because most people that have this surgery are older. So I've been healing pretty fast, Thank Goodness! It takes 6 to 8 weeks to recover and I can't even drive until it's been 6 weeks since the surgery! So I have to wait another 3 weeks! I have a feeling they will be longer than usual!
The incision they made was down the sternum but luckily they didn't cut/saw whatever, all the way. They either started or stopped about 2 inches below my collar bone. The doctor, Dr. Selzman said they only opened the rib cage enough to see the whole heart and to get the job done so healing would be easier than opening the rib cage wide open (crushing back muscles-ouch). I had tubes all over in my neck and under my incision as well as all the I.V.'s!! I was so glad when they got rid of that catheder!!When I got home my dad stayed with me for a week and family and friends helped out. Thank you everyone! I had to and pretty much still have to (only way I'm most comfortable) sleep in the recliner. I tried my bed though I kept trying to turn over unknowingly and that wasn't so comfy and I was sore for a while after. I tried the couch a few times but it still isn't so comfy though close. So for a little while longer (hopefully not to long) I'll be sleeping in the recliner !
Kenzie stayed with her Aunt Karen and Uncle Jim who live semi close. Their kids Brennon and Alora (her cousin's from her dad's side) go to the same school so that was definitely a blessing! Kenzie came home a little over a week ago and we get help from my relief society president Sister Gardner to get her to school in the mornings and even to dance/tumbling classes on Tuesdays! (Her classes are at the same place, one after another.) She took her to her classes during Kenzie stay at her Aunt and Uncle's as well.I am so blessed to have such wonderful family and friends! Thank you so much for all you do!! I can't wait to be fully recovered and be able to get back to my life and then some with more oxygen pumping through my veins so I can have more strength and energy!! So then I can help out others all around me too, just like all of you! The night before the surgery I was given a priesthood blessing by my Bishop and one of his couselors and then a Fathers blessing from my dad as well. I am grateful for all of those in my life (that have been and still are) . I am grateful for the LDS Gospel and Priesthood! Thank you for all those that came to see me in the hospital and for those that called and came to see me at home afterward too!! I appreciate all your kind words and prayers!!!

(I've posted pictures of gifts and flowers given to me in and out of the hospital. - pay no attention to the date on the photo's)

My Heart and upcoming Surgery!

So I haven't had much energy when it comes to really anything in general and barely get the important things done let alone anything extra!! I haven't been keeping up on my blog what so ever! There are so many blogs I need to do still! Sorry everyone I'll get up on them as soon as I'm all done recovering from my surgery I'll be having soon that will hopefully fix everything! No more getting sick easily and much more energy and Pizazz again!

My Open Heart Surgery Date is Set Everyone!! It's in less than a week and a half! I told the doctor 'as soon as possible' when he asked when I'd like to do this. So not this week or next week but the following week on Monday.

It will be on March 2nd at University Of Utah Hospital in Salt Lake City, Utah !! I'll be in the hospital at least 3 days up to a week. Come and see me (after the first day) if you can, I'd really like that!

I don't know if they will be going in thru the breast bone or under the left side taking out a rib (temporarily) yet. I have a C.A.T. scan on the 25th of Feb. (instead of M.R.I.) and after it's done my surgeon will let me know probably which way will be better. (The hole is in an awkward place by important valves and such and 'wiring' that could cause problems so they are trying to figure out which way to go in and fix it would be best.

Love you all and wish me luck!! (Prayers are always good too!)

Previous Blog From the 15th of Feb:

I was born with a VSD or Ventricle Septal Defect or a hole in the bottom two chambers of my heart. I probably should have had surgery when I was a baby but they kept waiting to see if it'd get better on it's own and eventually heal. I was born a good 8 lb.s but there after I only gained 4 ounces a month instead of 2 lb.s (1 lb. =16 oz.s) a month. I was extra scrawny growing up and got tired quicker than most kids in sports but otherwise a normal kid.

After I had my first daughter about 7-8 years ago my mom had a stroke and we found out part of the problem was she had a hole in her heart we didn't know about (her dad had heart problems too) so she had to have open heart surgery then to fix the hole and to get a double bipass. So because childbirth puts strain on the heart I had my heart checked and they couldn't find the hole ! So since then we thought it was all healed up. They did find lil (mild regurgitations) back flows at the time but otherwise I was good.

I did have another baby since then that I placed for adoption. So maybe that had to do with the hole opening back up. I started getting faint easy and then became really anemic a few years ago and since then I've slowly become more weak and tired easy as well as I get sick super easy especially the last 6 months to a year. Last year I had my heart checked and Wammo there was the dang VSD loud and clear on the echocardiogram- like ultrasound.

My regular doctor thought it wasn't a big hole and so I kind of procrastinated going to a cardiologist until recently. My oxygen levels get low super easy (just from going up or down stairs) which is really bad for the body let alone the side of the heart that pumps blood to the lungs and I could end up with some disorder/disease (can't remember name) and would be disabled and put on oxygen for the rest of my life (or could just end up having heart failure). I could get sick easy and end up not making it if my body wasn't strong enough to fight it. I am practically immune to most antibiotics by now. Lol goodness

I had procedures done to check my heart more thoroughly the other friday. A transesophageal echocardiogram and then a coronary angiogram. Before the second procedure was done the cardiologist said I definitely need surgery. I'll be seeing a heart surgeon on tuesday at the University of Utah Hospital in Salt Lake City. He's gonna set up a MRI appt. and then we go from there when it comes to setting up the date for my surgery, what hospital it'll be at and all of that. Fun stuff eh?

Yea being a single parent that works and goes to school is tough enough, I kept thinking lately I'm about to lose my mind with the lack of energy I have and how easily I get sick!! I wondered how others do this!?! I didn't realize duh it's my heart and life will be so much easier and better once I am recovered !! Luckily I've always been optimistic about life and things but the last like 6 mo.s, Oh man, a lifter upper would be nice! LOL

So yea that's my story when it comes to my heart.

Wish me luck!! I'm not quite nervous yet, just know I gotta do what I gotta do and that I'm sick and tired of being sick and tired! I think now that the date is set I'm nervous about getting nervous. :P

The cool thing is, is I've been repenting for a while and will be a new person physically and spiritually at the same time! At the end of March!! WeeHoo!

'It's a new dawn, it's a new day, it's a new life for me ... I'll be feeling good!'

Lil Sis'N'Fam Come up to Swim! Aug. 8th, '08

Ok here's another one finally! So for those of you that don't know. I actually have had two children. The second one I placed for adoption almost 4 years ago (4 yrs on Feb. 21)! I gave/placed her with a family I met through friends of the family that are pretty much like family to me as it is! I met them through Alicia and Shawn Dixon also Aundrea had mentioned them as well while I was in search for good families. If in case I couldn't find a couple/family I didn't feel was right, of course I'd keep her but I thought/knew she deserved better/More! They couldn't have kids on their own and were ready and living right to be able to do so. I wanted the baby to have what I wanted some day for myself and family to be sealed in an LDS (mormon) Temple! It wasn't something I could give her right away and she deserved that. She didn't have any choice in how she was being brought into the world, and I honestly hadn't been living right for some months and knew she deserves more than I could give her. I already had the chance to be a mother as well as could hardly afford to care for her on my own as it was. I had a strong feeling that Lorien and Logan were 'it' but made sure not to make any rash. decisions 'til later. There were other families I was deciding on too. When I met them I'd like to say they had me from Hello, he he but it was pretty much by the end of the evening after having dinner with Alicia and Shawn and Lori and Logan and Kenzie and I then a movie at Shawn and Leesha's. The funny/amazing thing about my choosing them is that Taylor looks just like the two of them put together! I just knew she would too! Lori and Logan are two of the most amazing people I've ever met and I totally look up to them and can confide in them and talk with them about anything, no matter what!

So yes if you've been wondering, yes it's an open adoption. They were/are certified or what not through LDS Social Services (adoption) but since I met them through friends we didn't go through an agency. Kenzie and I get to see them every year around the holidays! This summer though we got a special treat! Since Kenzie and I live in apartments with a pool and hot tub Kenzie really wanted to invite them up for a swim. So when they were going to be up here for Logan's moms birthday they decided to come up for a swim after all! Hooray! So we went to dinner and then for a swim together! It was great fun! In these photo's they are at the Manti Temple where they were sealed together when Taylor was 6 months old! So they came back to show her and tell her all about it! I'm so proud of them and of myself that I chose them. They are our favorite people ever! (Of course I love my family and friends but yea) :P WE LOVE YOU LORI, LOGAN AND MISS TAYLOR MARIE!

{Coombs} Family Reunion in Aug.'08

Hidy Ho all ya'll! So I'm now posting another blog finally and I'll still be behind a bit but I'll catch up slowly but surely! In August this year we had a reunion on my dads side (Mr. Mark F. Allen aka Pops), :) through my dads moms side, Henrietta Coombs. (Her maiden name)

~My cousins Dawn and Wendy and I~

The first day we went to Wheeler Farm in Salt Lake City, UT. We had a lovely breakfast that was like a pot luck then had a meeting for future reunions (every other held in Gorgeous Alberta, Canada) and then an auction to put funds toward our reunion fund! I brought a couple quilted baby blankets and they all were auctioned off. Kenzie has a few already we are keeping for her. I made her one myself, my sis Ashley and I made her one as well and one or two more! My cousins Wendy and Dawn provided harmonious entertainment!

~Wendy with her amazing Violin playing!~

~Dawn with her talented voice! (She sang in Italian!)~

A lovely shot of my brother-in-law (married to Angela)! He HE I had to throw it in! He was trying to blow me away and well now I've got a perfect 'Blue Steel' Look of him! Lol

Some of the Midvale Fire Department came to Wheeler Farm to soak the kids down (The kids were there for a day camp) - with the giant hose from the fire truck! Kenzie had fun joining the other kids even though she wasn't in a swimming suit, she came away pretty wet and enjoyed herself immensely! It was pretty hot outside, close to 100 degrees so that must have been pretty nice for Kenzie especially since she was getting pretty bored with our reunion meeting for funds for geneology work! She did make a beautiful bead neckless with the activities for kids during the meeting/auction.

Nathan (my bro-in-law) and Kenzie and I walked around and played with the ducks and geese. Before we left my dad and Kenzie and I went to look at the other animals and Kenzie got to ride a pony!

The next day we went to The Beehive House and the Lion House in SLC, UT for a tour and then breakfast/brunch.

~Angela and Kari, my sisters~

~Kari and her hubby Jordan, and Ashley's eyes!~

~My brother-in-law Nathan and my cousin Clinton~

~My cute lil Kenzie baby!~

~Mi Padre aka Dadio~

~All three of my sisters (Angela, Kari & Ashley) and brother-in-law Jordan~

Afterwards we walked up hill in the heat to the Daughters of the Utah Pioneers Building. On the way up I got a picture of The McCune Mansion that was my Great Great (1 plus or minus Great) Uncles, he built it himself, Alred McCune!



One of his younger brothers, Henry McCune was my Great Great Grandfather, my dads Great Grandfather. Their father Matthew McCune was a pioneer who crossed the plains and suffered much tribulation in following his faith and moving to Salt Lake with many more pioneers! Another ancestor, Isaiah Moses Coombs, left so much behind (including a wife and child that didn't make it) to come west.

Kenzie just loved the Fancy Pioneer Dresses! She is very girly like that. :P

If you'll notice her outfits she threw together from the two days. :)

She just loves dresses and skirts!

I am grateful for all my ancestors that did travel and go through such hardship to do so! Thank you familia of familia!

Our Feathered Friends!

(Nevermind the date on the pics, it was spring/summer 2008)

Ok you guys (and gals),

I haven't blogged for a season and a half! How sad is that? I've had pictures to post and yet NOoo I haven't done it! Bad Cheryl Bad! Ok well I didn't get to many pictures but the first set of pics are from spring/summer taken of our duck friends that reside here at our apartments. (Outside of course!) They've had 3 sets of babies, or we had new baby ducks or excuse me before my daughter corrects me... ducklings, 3 different times! I wanted to get a picture of the bigger ones the medium sized ones and the widdle tiny ones but um, well that didn't happen. So just the first set will do. We love are duck friends! I like to call them the duckeroos, quackers and such but my daughter gets at me for not calling them their correct names! She is very articulate and grammaticaly correct with proper names and all. She cracks, no wait quacks me up! HA HA HA (She'll roll her eyes when she reads this I'll betcha)!

So here are some cute pictures of a duck momma, daddy and their babies.

The first one is of the daddy as he's running to rescue and protect his woman duck and babies. He was across the parking lot hangin' with his homies.




















We've had some fun experiences with the ducks around here. We'd feed them bread and watch them play in the rain puddles. Once we fed some babies and they ate right out of our hands! It was fun, Kenzie kept petting them when they'd get close and they'd run a few feet then come right back for more. If there is such thing as reincarnation they must have been pigs before! This one would jump up real high to get pieces of bread out of Kenzies hands. Cute little beggers but no patience! The other one kept nipping at Kenzies little toes when we were sitting down and the lil white sea shells on her shoes. She must have thought her lil white toes and the sea shells were pieces of bread! It was to funny!



















This picture you can't see much but I love it 'cause the father duck is in front of the mama duck protecting her and the ducklings are hiding behind her! How Sweet!




















To bad I didn't get a picture of our little feathered friend Ron. Yes Ron was/is his name. He was of the second hatchlings if I remember right, he was born bright yellow and the momma was trying to kill him! :O For sad huh?! We think there may have been something wrong with him or he was slower hatching. So some friends that live here at our apartments, the Kellers were able save little Ron and you guessed it, named him RON!! I remember the first day I met him! I still worked graveyards at the time and my daughter and her little friend Carson brought a sweet little yellow duckling in to me as I was lying in bed reading! He was so cute and little I bet I could fit two of him in my hand. Carson and Kenzie introduced me to little Ron and set him down on the bed beside me. After talking for a few minutes about him and how they saved him and that the apt. office staff let them keep him, the two kids decided to go get or do something from the front room and left Ron right next to me. Well as you may know, ducklings (all birds I think actually) think the first person they see after hatching is their mom and well I think when the kids took off into the other room that baby duck wanted to do the same. The only problem was that he was way up high on my bed! He didn't even think about it though and just scampered right off that bed! I about jumped off that bed after him shouting OH NO!! He went from snuggled up sitting their to running off that cliff of a bed in an instant! HA HA Poor lil thing ! Our friends took him to their mother (Carsons grandmother) in Bountiful where she has a farm or something to that affect a week or two later but let Kenzie go with them to see Ron as he got a little older. As he got older and his down feathers fell out while growing new adult ones he turned white and had red eyes! He was/is albino! We wonder if that had anything to do with why the mama duck tried to kill as he hatched. Who knows. Now that it is almost winter and it has already SNOWED!! Arg! (I hope winter goes by fast)- ANyhoo maybe since its almost winter Ron decided to fly south. Wherever he went he just up and left! Farewell to our feathered friend Ron the duck!




Since having Ron come into our lives as well as all the new ducklings this year Kenzie has wanted and even begged to have a duckling for a pet! I told her maybe someday when we have a yard. I want a puppy someday too, when we have a yard so I dont know if having a duck and a dog would work. Ya never know though!