At Last My Gas is in the Past....or life is normal...almost...kinda...well what is normal?

Our lives had taken on a regular beat for about 2 days and then Christmas started encroaching(sorry about the negative context), I should say, enlivening our lives. So much so, that I found myself sitting in choir practice this past sunday starting to have a migraine headache. I can't recall any consumption of the dreaded "C", (chocolate for those unfamiliar with my medical hx.) so I have concluded it came from just an inordinate amount of back to back scheduling items that left little time to relax. We had been watching Dan's children for 4 days thru Saturday and come Sunday I was back to back meetings and choir practice right after church. I didn't have a great deal of fear as I would just go home, take my medicine and be back to singing in the stake choir festival that evening. I did go home, but that is the end of the following of that plan. After having thrown my drawers, shelves, medicine cabinet and all my secret stashes into various states of disarray, I realized I had no medicine to take. Marilyn went to my office and an hour later medicine in hand I figured things would get better quickly. Wasn't to be. I took the medicine, went to bed and 12 hours later arose to go to work. For the next two days suffered from the after migraine cobwebbiness in the brainicus syndromicus. Just now starting to feel like I am in control of the neurons again.
It was noted as well that Marilyn also went to bed about 6pm that evening and didn't get up for 12 hours. I believe that we were a bit worn out. We are getting old and less pliable!
Having seen the lack of medications that are effective, I called my physician the next day and he called in a prescription to Wal Mart Pharmacy.(A Big Box Pharmacy with big problems) When we went to pick it up the next day, it had been put on hold. They didn't have 10 pills but only had 3. When I told them I would take the partial fill and get the rest later, she said ok it will be ready in 45 minutes. I have to say that I was a bit irked at having waited 24 hrs to give them time to fill it, only to be told that I'd get to wait another better part of an hour for the right to get 3/10 of my prescription. So Ms Marilyn and I walked around Wal Mart looking for something that we might need. After realizing that we were already blessed with enough and beyond, we went back to pick up the meds. You probably guessed it(at least Heidi who is somewhat of a regular reader of this blog will have) the meds were not ready and Zelda(not a real name) forgot to tell Betty(another fictitious chick) and so nothing was done. Trying to summon up all my charm that one can ooze out when one is also oozing out rage, we came to an agreement that my rx. would be the next to be handled. As we were waiting, Ms. Marilyn commented on how sweet Betty was and what a wonderful smile she had. Here comes the guilt! So by the time I got the medications, I was reduced to telling the lady she had a wonderful smile and I was sorry she had to work in a place that was so hectic.(Cost of the 3 pills...$70.00) What price not having a migraine brings. I figure $25 for not having the cobwebiness is worth it. Now if I can only hide it in a findable place!
So now we are enjoying the company of Grandma Barbara, Linzi and baby Jack. Tonight Chris, Elice, Brayden, Jared, Cami and Jackson come. We are going to have a weigh in to see who claims chunk of the mountain award. Tomorrow Ginnie and company will come to bring Parker into the fray! Sunday, Chris and elice will be going home but not before we go to see the football game at UNLV. BYU vs UCLA on ESPN @5:00 pm. I don't know for sure about ESPN but the other letters are correct. Christmas next Tuesday. Oh, I forgot that Jordan will be coming on Friday as well.
Grandma is doing well but has an infection in her ear caused by her hearing aid that doesn't fit well. Marilyn took her to quick care and she has drops. Hopefully, she will be able to improve and follow up in SLC. Well, enough for another blog post. Ciao

After the big C....what?

Well, I'm now 4 days post op and feeling like maybe my insides might be coming back online.(I know that is a computer term but I'm morphing it into the realm of colorectal jargon..OK?) When the procedure is done they inflate the colon with gas to make it easier to see...whatever they see. Well, I do believe that the gas stays in cognito for a couple of days and then makes one final rush for the old outdoors. Marilyn has been very patient as she was in the same mode 2 weeks ago and went through the same moving experience. So now I am cleared for another 5 years. No polyps, no pockets and some small hemorrhoids(spelling check). Tis the plight of the 60 year old male. Next up, prostate exam.....

Roto and Rooter....take it like a man!

I awoke this morning with some fear and trepidation knowing that today was the "P" Day. Prep day for my colonoscopy. It didn't calm my fears any that Marilyn told me how kind it was that I had let her go first so that she didn't have to go through it knowing what was going to happen! Thanks but no thanks! I am really not a wimp and this is my third time around, and this time I only have to drink 1/2 gallon instead of 1 gallon of thick, heavy, lays in your stomach, lime flavored goo, which is another reason I feel somewhat better than the last time. Hey, I started having colonoscopies because of diarrhea anyway, so what is another round of self induced diarrhea going to hurt! So I am now finishing my 1/2 day of work, looking forward to going home and taking a couple of pills to prime the pump, then using the flood the system technique for the coup de gras! Will try to update you as the process flows....oops a play on words. Think of me and keep your daubers up and your trolleys on the wire. Until next blurb on my blog. CARL

Well, I haven't been exactly thrilled with my efforts to get pictures to my blog. The last entry gave wonderful description to the pictures that were not there. If you haven't noticed, the blog has "photo" highlighted instead of a picture. I'm trying again in hopes that it will work.
This is Ben and Quinn. They are not new borns but they are cute and this picture shows them at their best. I have never gotten into car seats myself but realize that I would be in big trouble with the powers of my daughters were I to ever undo the shoulder straps on one of these little guys!










This is proud father Jordan with Jack Jordan Ohlson. He is now over 12 lbs and a month old. They are safely back in Provo after a one week stay with us. Jordan is grateful for the return of his family. We miss the little guy and Linzi but don't want to be stingy about sharing them with others. So Jordan, you can have them, at least until xmas!











Drew isn't showing his golden locks of curls in this picture but I can attest that he has them. This is taken in Bountiful while we were waiting to eat. Lots of people think he looks like Grandpa Dan, and I guess he does, at least he has the long narrow face. Hopefully, he'll be a happy camper like grandpa!
Speaking of not so happy campers! This is Jack Jordan in his blessing outfit, the same one Jordan used a few years back. He is quite the chunk and we have had a good time with him. Well, now to see if the pictures publish or not! Cross your fingers! Voila!

New Babies on revue....

Getting the newest members of the family out befor... Getting the newest members of the family out before the world. First to be shown would be Jack Jordan Ohlson.[Photo] He is a biggen and will continue to be as he has surpassed the 10 lb mark already. We think he is pretty neat. He is staying with Mother, Grandpa and grandma this week to the chagrin of Papa Ohlson. He is doing well and having a bit of cholic at night but other than that, seems to enjoy life and has already tried to say Punka and Jenga!!! [Photo] This guy is Jackson Robert Smith. Chris and Elice's newest little guy. Again not so little but definitely cute. He is doing well and the family thinks he is the best thing that has come into their family, at least since Camille came. We enjoyed seeing him 2 sundays ago when he was blessed. The Patterson grandparents were there as well and we enjoyed a wonderful visit. Jackson seems to have plenty of little fingers to tweek and pinch his cheeks and any other protruding flesh they can get fingers on. [Photo] Voila, Parker Smith Kimball. Note the straight hair but plenty of it. Hopefully, it will follow the Cael pattern and get nice and curly sometime in the future. The family is enjoying this new arrival and Marilyn spent time with them after the birth. He is a cute guy. Speaking of guys, how about trying for some girls next time? [Photo] This is Jack Jordan in his blessing outfit, the same one his father used when he was blessed. Like father like son. IT was amazing that it fit. I don't think Jordan came into the world with 4 wrinkles from elbows to wrists like this guy did. Anyway, we love our new arrivals. I suppose I should add "wristy" to the mix but didn't have any pictures to bring into the blog. Anyway, any that I could identify as the one and only.

draft

by carl

Blogging to avoid halloween duties

Here I am writing a blog on Halloween night because 1) I can't hear people knock on my door from here, saves on Halloween candy 2) We live on a cul-de-sac that doesn't attract any trick or treeters anyway and 3) I don't have a wife to occupy my time(she is in SLC with sister and mother). I walked into the office today and found the fashion for Halloween costumes for the year are Bee antennae and green faces. I can see the green faces(Feona, Incredible Hulk, Green Lantern, etc.) and I can see bee antennae(Killer bees, honey bees, Bee Gee bees) but I can't put the two together. Would it be a Feona bee, The incredible hulk beemeister, or I'm green with envy Bee Gee bees. Well, it goes way above my abilities.
My partner saw one of our employees who had a princess costume on and blurted out, "you look just like Princess Feona". I tried to help the situation by adding, before the change of course. I think the hurt had been done. I wonder why they say men are insensitive?
We will be in Provo this weekend for Linzi's baby blessing. I will fly up after working Saturday morning. Your mother is already there, doing her thing with family. She was getting antsy because she had been home for 2 weeks in a row.
My desire to blog has just left me. Blogging is boring, except for those creative few who find outlets for talents. Besides, my blog has attracted 2 comments, both from Heidi, Oh I forgot Celia dropped by once. Celia, you have made my blogging career worthwhile.

So, I have now gone way back into the archives to pull out this picture. I'm still trying to remember if Josh was being punished for not clearing the table or if he had just finished the old pull the table cloth out from under the dishes and it got away from him? The background would make me believe neither. This was his dress for playing the organ at the episcopal church in Cleveland. The organ is to his left and will not go down in the annals of great classical organs but one must start somewhere. He now is playing the organ in the Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Georgetown, Wash. DC area. You may remember this one, it was John F. Kennedy's church of choice while habitating the white house.

What is Linzi doing? One would think that the entire enjoyment of the car ride rested with her abilities to hold this pose for 3 hours while we traveled to Utah with Ciera and Ivy. Fortunately for Linzi, we were just traveling acrossed town when the two sleeping beauty's did their thing. We knew right then that she would be a good mom or at least a good support group for her children.

Whose little waif is this one? Those of you who are following Heidi's blog would recognize this to be one of those "She wanted to do her own hair" days. Unfortunately, this does not excuse Heidi from her motherly responsibilities of at least washing her face! I would have red eyes too if my mother didn't wash my face! Let the guilt feelings begin!

Heather, what is your excuse? How about, "boys will be boys" or "Hey dude you look totally boyish" or "chocolate frosting goes good with yellow" or "I don't have time to wash my face mom, I'm to busy finding the square root of 2,304,432!". Come to think of it, this is probably one of Grandma Smiths charges. Where was Granny Smith for this one? Probably out picking apples!

Well, enough of the pictures. For those who may not know the last one, its Quinn, heathers oldest son. He is our resident Mathematics guru. We love him and have such a wonderful time with him. He is very photogenic, even without the frosting! Well, I can't compete with the voluminous materials that Heidi puts out and since I don't really care to; I will end my blog.

Ms. Marilyn said I didn't have any pictures of "moi". Voila, moi! This one shows that you can take the podiatrist out of the country but you can't take the podiatrist out of the podiatrist! I'm sure that makes sense. This fellow had the gold toe syndrome that comes with showing your brass toe off too much in public and having foot fettishers come and play with your toe.
This is yours truly and two of yours truly's children standing somewhere in Paris. I believe it to be at the Louvre but can't be certain. My memory seems to be about as good as my picture is. The day was one that just brought out the horizontal stripes in all who are thin and not pregnant. One would not want to advertise to brazenly ones pregnant condition. With todays choice of wear for maternity outfits, the not only show off your bulging belly but work in your everted naval type dress wear, it has gone just a tad to far on the old maternity wear! Anyway, that would be the opinion of one.
Showing that the eiffel tower really isn't that big. Why it's just a bit taller than josh. Perspective really is a fun thing.
Here I am wearing my one and only brown wedding suit. It worked for two weddings and now is retired waiting for me to dye my hair brown again so the gray doesn't clash. Your mother is in her blue suit she bought specially for Courtneys wedding. Question then arises, why am I wearing my suit for a second time when she gets new outfits for each wedding? I guess I owe myself 6 suits! Oh, flowers by Spelts!

Europe with the smiths

Marilyn is about ready to go to see the ice statues and food creations in the dining area of the ship. She chose a relaxed Chinese silk outfit with black puffy shoes and a natural look with a pull back hair style. Very chic and she was the talk of the boat for her choice of apparel.
The trio looking down one of Venice's many back alley canals or is that just back canals? We were a quite cosmopolitan group as can be seen by the cool sun glasses, visor and white pregnancy smock. We may not have been the best dressed but we were among the happiest of visitors to Venice on this day.
Versailles, Louis the XIV home. A humble little four story flat with a view. Decorations by Louis and company, at works by everyone with a name in art. It wasn't any wonder that the poor people revolted, they did however wait for Louis the XVI in order to do it. Louis XIV had all of the nobles of his country in his court, all vying for the opportunity to come and dress him in the morning, eat with him at breakfast, lunch and dinner. His adversaries were all part of his court and he created a God like image in all of their minds. He must have been quite the personality.
Louis's garden and Josh's non plussed attitude for the same. Instead of just saying cheese, Josh said Camembert!(with an attitude). MOre to follow

Don't push the next blog tab..!!!

I have just had a blogging experience from hell....anyway, depending upon your take on things. I had been reading Heidi's blog, a must for everyone to read, I then punched up my own blog thinking I would "post" one of my own. I looked up at the top of my page and couldn't remember exactly what to push and saw the "next blog" button. I clicked on it and immediately was in XXX rated materials. I panicked looking for an exit button, all the while trying to keep my eyes off the material and pictographs that were definitely in line with what the prophet suggests that we avoid. So after getting the right x pushed and with sweat dripping off my forehead, I took a break and made certain that this time the next blog button stays unpushed. I had forgotten that one "posts" a blog and doesn't write it.
Funny story: My patient came into my office with pain in his feet, heel pain and pain all over. As we were talking I asked him about the xray report stating that he had arthritis in his 2nd and 3rd toes of his right foot. He said when he was young that he was a bully type of older brother and when his brother and his friends were playing he would always kick their ball or do something else to disrupt their fun. So one day they were playing soccer and he ran onto the field to kick the ball. He hadn't really noticed but the ball they were playing with was stationary and they had painted a big rock to look like a ball. Thus twenty years later, he has arthritis in his toes where he kicked the "ball/rock". He assured me that a lesson was learned.
I guess my seeing humor in the situation may be a bit grotesque but he was laughing as hard as I did.
My days have come down to enjoying my solitude without your mother. She is with linzi and taking care of baby jack. He is quite the eater and though linzi isn't doing a lot of nursing, she is pumping and she seems to have the same problems nursing that Heidi is blessed with.(Heidi, I didn't give you those genes!). It could grow on me being a loner. I can't complain about the company I keep, I find myself quite good company and have very few arguments and very few conversations. I enjoy reading and am trying to finish, "Between a Rock and A Hard Place". It isn't too great knowing the end of the book when a story like that is being told. It does however tell of why he had the wherewithal to do what he had to do to save himself.
I am supposed to make this some kind of interesting writing rather than a "this is my life" tableau. Maybe I'll get better at it in the future.

Well, I think I'm getting the hang of this blogging business. This is a picture of the you know who's in greece. The isle of Mikonos to be specific. We will post some more of the european pictures in the future. Hope everyone finds our blog to enjoy this. THanks again to Janene for putting us on to this. When you type in our blog address don't put www. just put CarlandMarilyn.blogspot.com No @ either.

The first is always the firstest!

Just a note to start the blog, Janene thanks for the idea and thanks to gmail for making it all possible. Someday I'll learn how to do the wonderful picture downloading thing, etc. etc. I may even start some poetry blogging.

Once you were two dear birthday friend,
Inspite of purple weather.
Now your three and near the end
As we gruesome together.
How forthful thou forsooth for you
For soon you will be more,
But for one can be two, be three,
before be five, be four!