Mona Lisa

Scott & Trina Martin came up to visit us again during the first weekend in August. They came up to attend a friend’s wedding and decided to stay with us. While they were here we celebrated Trina’s birthday (Aug. 7th) and their 20th anniversary (Aug. 18th). Trina wanted to go to the Mona Lisa Fondue Restaurant and so we got reservations to go out on her birthday and celebrate. Curtis and I also celebrated our 4th anniversary (Aug. 12th) with them. The Mona Lisa is pretty spendy (around $75 per couple) so it’s a once a year or every other year type restaurant, but oh, sooooo good!! It’s got a very romantic setting and even when they are extremely busy it still doesn’t feel that way. We enjoyed our 2 ½ hrs that we spent there eating cheese fondue, meat w/dipping sauce, veggies, bread, and of course chocolate fondue! It sure doesn’t look like a lot of food when they bring it out a little at a time, but man are you stuffed when you leave! Another cool thing about the restaurant is that you can write “love notes” to each other and put them in a bottle and they will keep it for you for up to 2 yrs. The last time Curtis and I were there was 2 yrs ago and they were able to find our messages in a bottle and write new ones to each other to be read in 2 yrs. Thanks Trina for suggesting that we go here and celebrate. It was so much fun!!! Happy Anniversary!!!

Looking at the outside you would never guess this is a nice romantic restaurant

Cheese Fondue

main course, meats, potatoes, veggies, bread & a cheese block

the grill & dipping sauces for the meat

Happy 4th Anniversary!

Happy Birthday Trina!

Also, Happy 20th Anniversary

The Turtle-a-flame chocolate fondue.

This isn't a great picture of the flame as it was totally

consuming the marshmallows that they are trying to

roast, but you get the idea

Chocolate Fondue....YUMMY!

Scott & Trina

My handsome husband & I

I Love You!

Babysitting Matthew

The day that I got out of the hospital, Curtis’ sister Heather asked if we wanted to watch Matthew (4 months old) for a couple of hours so that they could take Spencer to go and play with his cousins at a water park. (They were in town to attend the baptism of their niece on the other side of the family.) Since Matthew is such a good baby I was totally up for watching him, besides Curtis was going to be home, so he could help too. Matthew was sleeping when he got to our house and woke up about 5 min. after his parents left. I thought for sure he was going to cry when he woke up and saw his aunt and uncle that he had only been around a few times…but no crying at all. He woke up all happy and cute. Uncle Curtis had is first experience feeding a baby, and did a great job! (now he just needs experience changing diapers….) Matthew was only fussy for a few minutes before his parents come to pick him up. It would have been fun to babysit Spencer too, but we’re glad that he had fun at the water park. Thanks Heather and Ben for letting us babysit Matthew!!

how could you not love a face like this

He is SO CUTE!

Uncle Curtis feeding Matthew

He also learned how to burp a baby

Crazy Uncle Curtis!

Hospital

This summer it was time again for me to the hospital for my regular CF stay. It had been 2 yrs since my last visit, so really I’m doing pretty good. This year, because of insurance reasons, I had to go to St. Al’s hospital instead of St. Luke’s. This was all able to work out because Dr. Rulon, who is a Family Medicine/OBGYN/Cystic Fibrosis doctor (and part of the CF clinic here in Boise) has hospital rights at both St. Al’s and St. Luke’s. It was hard to go to a new hospital where they didn’t know my regular routine and some didn’t even know that much about CF, but I was blessed to have patience with them and we all made it through just fine. Some of the advantages at St. Al’s are that the food is really good and I was in a bigger room (the hospital bed, a desk, couch that folded into a bed and extra space to move around in) so I didn’t feel very claustrophobic in there at all. There were lots of downsides to it too, but we won’t dwell on those…With this hospital visit I have once again decided that my life calling is to educate others about CF. It is a good thing, but it does get old sometimes.

St. Al’s also has a hospital Healing Garden, so one day my Mom, Brenda and my friend Crystal decided to go exploring and find it. It was beautiful, but I didn’t get to enjoy it much. It was extremely hot outside and after being inside for a week and not having my sun glasses with me, I could hardly keep my eyes open because it was so bright.

I was blessed to be able to get lots of rest, have someone else be in-charge of all my IVs (every 6 hrs, 8 hrs, and 24 hrs), eat lots of food and gain about 5 lbs, and was able to visit with family and friends too. Another huge blessing was that I didn’t have to worry about work at all. After I found out I was going in I called my boss and he said not to worry about it and to take the time that I needed to get feeling better. He even volunteered another worker to work with my clients until I could come back to work, so that they would still be able to have a regular schedule. As long as I turned in my paperwork and told my client’s what was going on I had nothing to worry about! What a blessing!!!! Don’t worry, I took the full week off that I was in the hospital and an extra week after that to get back into the swing of things (doing nothing but sitting in bed, eating, doing breathing treatments, and taking my medication really does wear you out and it takes time to get your energy back to where it was before you went in). Anyway, I feel better and am looking forward to having another 2+ yrs out of the hospital. Thanks to everyone for the prayers, food, and kind words…they helped A LOT!

I spent a lot of time "smoking & shaking"

and visiting with the Respiratory Therapists

My Mom working on a puzzle

Coming to visit and eat lunch w/me

The Healing Garden

a view of the garden

Brenda and my friend Crystal

Brenda & I...wow, was it bright outside!

Hanging w/Shasta & Andrew

As most of you know, Shasta and I have been friends ever since Junior High and we are still best friends! Shasta and Andrew live in Mountain Home so we don’t get to see them very often, mostly because of our work schedules… Anyway, for Christmas last year Andrew’s present to Shasta was tickets to the Idaho Shakespeare Festival. Instead of just getting 2 tickets, Andrew got 4 tickets and their present to us was that we come along too. FUN! We were finally able to work out schedules and went and saw The Comedy of Errors and Twelfth Night. We had a “box seat” with a table and chairs, so we were able to bring in our dinner to eat while enjoying the shows. We were in charge of most of the food since they paid for the tickets, which was fine with us. Both shows were good, although I think we all liked Twelfth Night a little better than The Comedy of Errors. The food was good and the company was GREAT! We got to the show early so that we could eat and chat, and then stayed a little while afterwards to let the crowd die down and to have to opportunity to chat some more. Here are some pictures of us goofing off and having fun:

What a cute couple!

Another cute couple!

Gotta love this one! :o)

Right before this picture, Andrew sprayed water on Curtis,

he doesn't like this picture, but I like it!

Trying another hat on

Ok, this is his prefered style...

Thanks Shasta and Andrew for the Fun time!

Hearing Aids

Every year I have to get my hearing tested, mostly because some of the antibiotics that I take can cause hearing loss. This used to not be a big deal until a couple years ago. The end of October of 2007 I got gentamycin toxicity. I have vestibular bilateral weakness, which affects the middle ear. I was dizzy for 2 months and couldn’t drive, I had to walk with a cane, and I had to do 6 weeks of therapy to learn to adjust to my balance problems. (not a fun time in my life…) At that time I had some hearing loss in both ears, but it wasn’t enough to need hearing aids. Even with therapy I still have some problems with my balance. However, I have learned what makes me dizzy and/or causes me to not be able to walk well and how to deal with it. I was supposed to get my hearing checked again in Nov. 2008, but we kept putting it off because our insurance had changed and we were going to have to go to someone who was in our insurance network.

DISCLAIMER: Yes, I was informed of potential hearing problems a long time ago and my doctor was often monitoring my dosage and levels to make sure that my body could handle the medicine. This was not my doctor’s fault. As can happen with anyone at anytime, the last time I used that particular medication my body decided that it could no longer handle it. So I can no longer have any amino-glycoside antibiotics. It does make it more of a challenge to find something that I’m not resistant to, but we make it work.

Anyway, I finally got my hearing checked in June and was told that I was “an excellent candidate for hearing aids”. Not too surprising, but a little hard to accept. I couldn’t tell you all of the details of my hearing loss except that I have loss in the upper frequencies, more on the left then right (so female voices are hard to hear and I have problems if there is a lot of background noise or if you’re in the kitchen trying to talk to me when I’m in the next room)…like I don’t know the percentage of loss I have in each ear. Curtis came to my appt. and saw the chart and he could explain it all to you in technical terms…but he is an engineer and finds it all very fascinating. (if you really want to know all the technical stuff, then you can ask him…I do love him for it though!)

We tried some hearing aids on in the office and tested how I did listening to the doctor and also to Curtis. They let me then take them home for several weeks to try them in some of my normal settings, to see if they helped at all. I was also trying to decide if I wanted to buy both, just one of them, or none at all. The seller for me to buy both was that I could hear my Grandma Myers on the phone and I understood my clients better. It was a very expensive investment (especially since our insurance covers 0% of hearing aids), but we made it work.

Despite the expense, they really are nice and fairly comfortable to wear. I have 4 different “channels” that I can use: 1-for normal everyday interactions, 2- crowd setting, where it filters out some of the background noise when I’m in a group setting, 3- church/theater setting, where it picks up the microphone and filters some of the background noise, and 4-telephone setting, obviously for use when I’m on the phone. I can also adjust the overall volume with my cell phone as a remote control, which is really nice! Since my hearing aids are digital, they can use the computer to adjust different frequencies and if my hearing loss worsens, they can adjust them accordingly. My hearing aids don’t fix all of my hearing loss…there are still some things that I have a hard time with, but it’s 95% better than before.

size of one hearing aid

both of them together

You can hardly tell that I'm wearing them.

I love that the color matches my hair color!

Paddle Boats

This summer Curtis and I have been pretty busy with work, scouting stuff, various projects, family get-togethers and taking care of my health. Despite being pretty busy, we have tried to find time to spend with each other. In June we went to one of Boise's favorite summer attractons...the Paddle Boats at Julia Davis Park. They have a nice little pond that you can paddle around, it's beautiful and very relaxing! It's also pretty reasonable too: $8 for 1/2 hr and $12 for 1 hr. (if I would have thought about it sooner I would have packed a picnic dinner for us to enjoy in the park too.)

A beautiful view!

one of the few fish we saw in the pond

one of the many duck families in the area

What a cute matching couple....

I just need to get a BSU hat for it to be complete

CF Walk

May 30th was the annual CF Great Strides Walk. This year we weren’t really into getting a team together and asking people for money, I think mostly because we were so busy and we had originally planned on being out of town that weekend. Anyway, we were in town so Samantha, Curtis and I participated in the walk. My friend Shasta even came from Mountain Home to walk with us. It’s always fun to see her! The CF walk has always been at Veteran’s Memorial Park in Boise. They have a great walking path that is about 1 ½ miles (which is funny because the walk is advertised as being a 5 K…but I don’t mind that it’s shorter) It’s fun walking next to the Boise River and enjoying the beauties of nature. (the only not so fun thing is that the cotton from the cotton trees that is flying ever where and aggravating my allergies a lot….hmm, maybe that is why it’s shorter)

After the walk there is food and a raffle w/prizes. This year they had some pretty awesome prizes to give away (a kitchen aid mixer, BSU tickets and other memorabilia, gift certificates, collectible dolls and more). We contributed around $10 and won a gift bag that had gardening supplies in it. Can’t wait until next year’s walk...I’m hoping to at least get more people to come and walk with us. Like they say at the walk: Let’s make CF stand for Cure Found!

Sam

Shasta

modeling our garden basket that we won

Best Friends

Forever Friends!!!

Happy 4th Anniversary, Sara!!

Okay, first of all a bonus point to anyone who can name the movie this quote comes from:

“Well at least she said my age in years. Usually she says it in months like I’m still an infant…How’s Mitch? Oh, good. He’s 468 months today.”

Anyway, since Sara and I have only been married for four years today, and coming up with only four things I love about her would be way too easy, I decided to come up with a list of 48 things that I love about her. One for each month we’ve been married. Anyway, here goes…

1. She has a beautiful smile that lights up a room.
2. She’s drawn to babies and small children.
3. Small babies and children are drawn to her.
4. She endures her trials without really getting down and depressed.
5. She does things even when she is not feeling good or is in pain (I have a tough time doing much of anything when I am sick).
6. She is a good example in taking care of herself.
7. She is a good example of studying the scriptures every day.
8. She doesn’t think the fact that I’m a nerd is a bad thing.
9. She is genuinely concerned about my health and well-being.
10. She doesn’t use words that would even questionably be considered “swear words.”
11. She has a whole lot of patience with me.
12. She has very beautiful eyes.
13. She puts up with “Cahoon Humor.”
14. She was a very dedicated student when she was in school.
15. She is very diligent in the things she does.
16. She’s a Boise State fan.
17. She enjoys watching Boise State sports with me.
18. She is a great photographer.
19. She is an excellent cook.
20. She has beautiful, golden blonde hair.
21. She puts up with all of my Kuna jokes.
22. She is very sensitive to the spirit.
23. She is very sensitive and aware of others’ feelings.
24. She is great at giving hugs.
25. She is great at kissing… :o)
26. She is a friend to everyone around her.
27. She does a great job as our ward historian.
28. She likes to cuddle with me.
29. She likes to hold hands with me.
30. She is an excellent singer (much better than me).
31. She tells me she loves me often.
32. She is my best friend.
33. She enjoys just spending time with me.
34. She loves to read.
35. She is excellent at remembering things (and I am…not so excellent at remembering things).
36. She is dedicated to doing her job the best she can.
37. She understands her limitations, but…
38. She doesn’t let those limitations keep her from living a full life.
39. She listens to me when I complain.
40. She laughs at my jokes (most of the time…).
41. She thinks I’m very handsome and attractive.
42. She loves to play games (board games, card games, etc).
43. She is beautiful when she sleeps.
44. She is beautiful when she’s awake.
45. She has a good sense of humor.
46. She is going to be an excellent mother.
47. She is an excellent, loving wife.
48. She is my eternal companion. I can’t imagine my life without her.
Happy anniversary, Sara my love!!

Happy (Late) Birthday Dad

So this post is a little late....but it's been a crazy busy summer, so better late than never. :o) Last month (July 14th) was my Dad's birthday. We celebrated Dad's birthday with a family dinner at our house.

Brenda is always trying to get a pictrue with me...
What a cute picture!!

Smile Nicole!!!

Parley laughing at something that was said

Dad and Mom before dinner

Thanks Dad for all that you have done for me. Thanks for working hard to provide for our family, making sure that we had a home, food and the health care that we needed. I know that we didn't always have all of the newest movies/games, brand new name brand clothes, or a fancy new car but I always knew that we had the things that we most needed: food, shelter, each other and the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Thanks so much Mom and Dad for always believing in me, teaching me to pray to Heavenly Father, teaching me to read my scriptures, teaching me the importance of serving others and for taking me to Church. I've been extremely blessed to have the family that I have and to have the Gospel in my life.

Happy Birthday!!! I love you!!!

Happy 31st Birthday Curtis!!!!

Today is Curtis' birthday. In honor of him, I thought that I would post 31 reasons why I love him. (This is not a complete list and they are in no particular order...)

Why I Love Curtis:
1-He has had patience with me from the beginning (he liked me from the start and it took 2 yrs of friendship before I finally decided that I liked him too...)
2-He works hard to make sure that our family is provided for.
3-He honors his priesthood.
4-He tries to learn everything he can about Cystic Fibrosis so that he can know how to best help me to be in my best health.
5-He is a nerd!
6-He is VERY good at Math
7-He is always joking around to make me smile and laugh!
8-Curtis always says "It doesn't matter how much money he has to spend on my health care because he says I'm worth it and sooo much more!!!"
9-He is a good scout leader and enjoys working with the scouts.
10-He tells me several times a day that I am beautiful
11-He ALWAYS opens the car door for me
12-He does the yard work
13-He helps cook and clean (including vacuuming & folding laundry)
14-He makes sure we have Family Home Evening every week
15-He is reading Harry Potter (and LOVING it!!!!)
16-He helps me take care of myself by making sure I take all my medicine, do my treatments and that I get all the rest that I need.
17-He is continually trying to learn new things
18-He loves getting my PFT results and analysing each of the numbers.
19-He supports me in whatever decision I make and in whatever I want to do
20-He is a BSU football fan and a Chicago Cubs fan
21-He loves to hold my hand
22-Even though he can't breathe for me, he holds me and loves me when I do struggle to breathe & it always helps!!
23-He will deal with all the medical bills because he knows how much it stresses me out.
24-He loves to sing
25-He tells me he loves me several times a day!
26-He always tells me that I'm the most important person in his life and that I'm more important than BSU football and the Cubs
27-He always makes the bed
28-His favorite thing to do is spend time with me.
29-He listens to me and talks things out with me.
30-He is my BEST friend
31-He married me for Time and All Eternity.

Happy Birthday Curtis! I love you!!!

Chelsea's Graduation

Last week we went down to Utah so that we could attend Chelsea's High School graduation. For those of you who don't know, Chelsea is one of my many adopted sisters. :o) She lived in Kuna for several years. I use to babysit her when she was 8. After I graduated High School, I use to spend the night at her home several nights a week and "watch" her while both her parents were at work. In October 2004, I ended up moving in with her and her parents and 10 months later I moved out because I got married. A year after that, Chelsea and her family moved to Utah (I miss them a lot!!!). Chelsea and I have been through a lot together and I love her just like I love my sisters. Chelsea also introduces me as her sister to others whenever I'm around, which always throws people off because she is an only child....we love it! Chelsea always makes me laugh and can always cheer me up when I'm feeling down. I wanted to make sure that we made it down to her graduation, even if it was a fast trip down and back. I'm so proud of her for all of her accomplishments! Congrats Chelsea!!!!! I love you!!!!!

Waiting for our food at Olive Garden
Sisters! :o)

Trina, Scott & Chelsea

Congrats sis!!!

After graduation was over

Shasta, Curtis & I tied a Kuna High School fleece

blanket for Chelsea for graduation.

She was WAY excited about getting it!!!!!

CONGRATS CHELSEA!!! I LOVE YOU!!!

Playing with our Nephew's

During our most recent Utah trip we stayed at Curtis' sister's home. (We went down to attend Chelsea's graduation...read the previous post). While we were at Heather's, Curtis and I enjoyed visiting Heather & Ben and playing with our nephew's. Matthew is now 2 months old and is just starting to smile on his own. When he wasn't sleeping in my arms, I was able to get him to smile....and boy was it cute!! Spencer is turning 3 soon, so we had a Nemo cake and gave him our present (an eye-spy bag). Spencer really liked Uncle Curtis and was his shadow for a while. Below are some of the pictures from our visit.

Wow, I really like Aunt Sara...
Isn't he ADORABLE!!!

Good morning handsome!

Hmm, I think I'll lay here and watch my brother...

playing with Uncle Curtis

Giddy-up!!!