Dip in the Pool?

OK - not that a dip in the pool is unusual, but I am still adjusting to the "warmth" of Arizona - it's April and the kids are swimming in the pool! They say if you can make it through the Summer you will love the Fall and Winter. Spring...it's "ify" - Well, we made it and from about October to March was lovely, Then the furnace was lit, and as the song says..."The Heat is On" So if you're planning a visit (which we would LOVE) rule of thumb - April -September, HOT! October - March, NICE :)

JV Baseball

Dowlin made the JV Baseball team at Willow Canyon High School this year - He's playing mostly in the field, but has seen action on 3rd base as well. He knows how to pitch, but refuses to let the coach know about that...stubborn! This game was played in the the Royals/Rangers Staduim - it was cool. Dowlin actually slid headfirst into home plate during this game and found the catchers cleat in his face and got himself a little dazed! Wonder where all those years of slide training went wrong? oh well - hey "Stick Boy" we love to watch you play!

Boys just wanna have fun

Brotherly bonding is so cool!

It's no secret that Arizona has tons of Major lague Baseball teams Spring Training stadiums. Well only a 5 minute drive gets you to the KANSAS CITY ROYALS and Texas Rangers Spring Training facility. Its really quite awesome. during the off season all the city leagues from baseball and soccer to football get to use the stadium for their games. Then the "big guys" get to town and it's 6 weeks of game after game after game!

Dowlin and Zachery took in a game this year - I thought it was pretty cool Dow took Zach. He even bought him junk food and souveniers!

After the teams leave for their home towns - they allow the Highschool and little league teams to play a game in the big atadium - It really is cool!

Momma's got a Brand New Hip

Well - how to document this, hmmm... just a quick update -

When I took Dowlin in to the Orthopedic Surgeon for his back last September, I mentioned to the nurse that my hip had been bothering me for years. We set an appointment for me with the "Hip Dr". After Xrays and visiting with Dr Thompson of the CORE Institute - It was determined that I would need a "Total Hip Replacement" - OK! I'm 38! Long story short, It is very common for the 1st born females to have Hip Displacia during birth. Taking into account that I weighed 10#13oz at birth, and that my Birth-Mother was about a size 4 before I was born - We figure I probably had Hip Displacia since birth.

By the look of my Xrays (I'll spare you - your welcome) the hip ball - was never in the hip socket. I lived 38 years in pain, thinking that was normal. Upon questioning my Dad and sister, they felt terrible! (not that they would have known) I did everything developmentally normal crawl, walk, run, etc... So no blame guys!

Anyway - Dean's parents came to help us with the kids, and lend me moral support! (Jan just had her knee replaced in October) Dean and I headed to Boswell Hospital in Sun City, AZ (LOL this is where the "old people" live year round) Surgery was a little longer than they were expecting, and Dean was getting nervous, but Dr Thompson finally came out and gave him the "all's well" and explained how bad things were and what they had to do. (again, I'm sparing you the details) I now have about a 5 inch stainless steel rod down my left femur, and porcelain ball joint, and steel and porcelain socket joint. (In my new Xrays - you can see 3 screws - cool huh) The incision is only about 5 inches long and healed quite nicely. They added 1/2 and inch to the left length too. So no more limp!

I was in the hospital for 4 days (I think) and Taleen came to help me and the kids on Saturday! They weren't going to let me out, because my blood counts were not right, but I begged and was doing everything pretty well even stairs - and got to come home on Sunday. The next few weeks I've got to admit were a blur. And very difficult to sleep, and the boys both got strep throat really bad - (add antibiotic to my daily medications) Physical Therapy 2-3 times a week for about 5 weeks, helped a lot - I will forever be grateful to my 3 cheerleaders at Physiotherapy, Mark, Mark & Jen. I was scared to leave!

I know that there is no way I would have survived this without the support of Dean and my kids, GG Taylor, Taleen, and Cheri! And my Visiting Teachers, and Home Teachers brought in meals! It's quite humbling to all of a sudden be the one everyone is doing everything for! I had to use a "granny walker" (It was Great Grandma Taylor's - what an honor, lol) that was - WOW, I felt really old! Then I finally graduated to a cane - still old, but at least not the walker :)

So much for my "short update" - In conclusion, it was about 4 months until I felt "normal" again - and felt good. I still do things like lurch into a quick jog or something, after Olivia, and I'll cringe remembering that it's going to hurt. Then when it doesn't it makes me smile.

UPDATE - At my 1 year check up, I told the Dr, "It doesn't hurt here (pointing to my hip) but here (pointing to my brain) still thinks it's going to". He was very pleased with my progress and released me totally! I told him that I wasn't going to do anything that "hurt". Anybody who knows me knows I'm not into pain!
But I wanted a few clarifications...light jogging? Nope - the replacement just wasn't made to take that kind of pressure. DANG! I was so into jogging before! LOL. DDR (Dance Dance Revolution - this is a PlayStation game) The kids, Dowlin mostly, were very concerned that this was a big NO NO - Dr said I can do all the walking, all the biking, all the DDR I want! HA!
Then as we were walking down the hall to check out, I told him the secret desire of my heart! "I really want to do a cartwheel again" So there we both were doing the cartwheel motions in slow motion in the hall way, 1st he said OK, then we decided maybe not, as we were laughing about how I was his ONLY patient to ever ask if I could do a cartwheel. Never once had his senior patients asked - go figure!

Tis the Season 2006

Taylor family Christmas! I love the Cactus!


What do you do to "warm up" and kick off the Holiday season in Arizona? Well we took the opportunity to take the kids to the Mesa Temple (1 1/2 hours drive) to see the lights and listen to the music and festivities on the Temple ground (15 minute walk around the grounds - 20 minutes tops) It really was beautiful - but the drive - 3 hours for 20 minutes of "ooh's and ahh's? Well we had to do it once right?

Grandpa and Grandma Taylor were here, they have rented a spot in a RV park to park their 5th Wheel trailer - about 15 minutes from our house. It was so awesome to have them here and help us decorate our Christmas Tree this year! Good to know we weren't left alone in the desert, They made it feel like home. We love their visits and so glad that we get to see them regularly!

Dear Santa - All I want for Christmas is to get off your lap!
Our Ward Christmas party! Believe it or not, but this little activity knocked about 15 families in the ward out in a 2 week period! That's right boys and girls can you say "flu bug"? Here's how we figure it works... Ward party, activity - frosting sugar cookies, you were probably safe if you went directly to this activity, however if you choose to stand in line for Santa first, you were doomed! Some sweet infected child or children (same sick family perhaps?) double dipped in the frosting bowls, leaving their knives and germs behind for the unsuspecting "next guy". No body was the wiser - until the connection was made weeks later - it had us down - not pretty! BTW this is reason #2 as to why Dean has a hard time eating at Ward "Potluck" functions!

The kids had their Choir performances at their school. This is Zachery after performing "Jingle Bell Rap" it was very cute. Brittney missed hers due to "the flu" :(

The kids leave their letters for Santa in their shoes - we find this quicker and easier than the US mail! Not to mention the little "goodie" left behind is like a receipt that Santa got your letter!

Zachery's Baptism

What a special Day! We had Grandpa and Grandma Wilson and Aunt Danielle come in to join us for this special day! Of course the Henson's were with us too!

Our Stake here in Surprise, baptizes children who choose to be baptized on the 1st Saturday of each month. So Zachery was baptized with another boy from our Ward. We all met together in the Chapel, where we listened to a talk on "Baptism"

Then ward by ward we were sent to the Font, Where Dowlin Baptized Zachery. Dean and I cried (obviously) Dean allowed Dowlin this privilege, it was so awesome to see Dowlin taking part in this sacred ordinance for Zachery. As a Priest in the Aaronic Priesthood, he is able to baptize...

Dean did Confirm Zachery a Member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints after a short talk on the "Holy Ghost"

It was a wonderful day (A long one for a little guy) ~ Although we missed having Grandma and Grandpa Taylor with us (Jan just had her Knee replaced in October) we felt they were there in Spirit, it was Grandma's birthday!

Great Grandma Taylor

We knew when we saw Great Grandma Taylor in October that it would be the last time. It was so good to see her before she died and returned to Heavenly Father and Great Grandpa Taylor.

She was a very nice funeral, many friends and loved ones were there to celebrate her life. Just like when Great Grandpa died 2 years ago, President Thomas S. Monson spoke.
They worked together in Canada "in the beginning". And have remained friends ever since. Great Grandma had a love for Missionary work! She and Great Grandpa served several missions for the Church. She will be missed here on earth, for the many lives she touched, however Heaven is rejoicing as she goes home!


We were able to enjoy time with the Taylor family. We miss them so much since moving to AZ.

Here is Bob with his sisters Arlene & Patricia, and brother Bill.

A Grandson's honor

Our Family