"Well at least now I know that I wasn't faking it."

Dale and I flew into Iowa Wednesday night. Aaron picked us up and we headed towards Davenport. About an hour away DeAndra called to say Marissa wasn't feeling very well. She called again a little while later pretty worried about Marissa who had been continually throwing up. She called again really worried about the happy girl that was pretty miserable. When we showed up Marissa was very distraught. She was definitely in pain with Aaron diagnosing a possible kidney stone. We finally decided the hospital was in our future. Time 2:30 am.The hospital was very helpful and had her immediately in a room . She was calming down and the pain had lessened from the 8.5 she had been experiencing. Her nurse, Megan, was very attentive. It was determined it was most likely some kind of kidney or bladder problem. They took her in for a xray with a contrast dye. When she got back Aaron noticed she had a rash on her neck. Time: 5:34 am They decided they had better give her Benadryl to treat the rash not knowing for sure if the cause was the dye or the antibiotic they had given her. After putting in the Benadryl they tried putting in a steroid. Marissa started laughing, then giggling uncontrollably. This started worrying the nurse. I guess I should have been worried, but I've seen Marissa like this and I didn't think it odd. The nurse, however, got worried when inbetween outbursts of laughter Marissa squeaked out that her fingers were going numb.
Megan called the doctor back in. It was decided that Marissa really likes Benadryl - who laughed out that she needed more. As quickly as the laughing started it stopped with her head hitting the pillow and her eyes closed. It was quite bizarre. She was given a load of meds, instructions for the future and well wishes from Megan and the doctor. Time: 7:30 am. Welcome to Iowa!

Our Princess

It's amazing what you can endure. Childbirth was hard, kids being sick or injured is pretty hard, but watching your beautiful daughter participate in a contest with other beautiful girls is agonizing.

We bought the dress, purchased an interview outfit, listened to her speech over and over, and encouraged her through words and deeds. Not much is harder than wishing things will turn out so tears of sadness can be avoided.

I feel for those girls that went through that and the parents having to help pick up those pieces. All the girls looked beautiful and did the community and their families proud.

For us tears were not occurring at our house. Unless you count my tears as we watched Mamma Mia and I saw the mother and daughter singing "Slipping Through My Fingers". The tears were mainly thanks to Shannon Toolson who has helped remind me that my last is leaving and my fingers can't hold too much longer.

Whitni did a great job at the pageant. She looked beautiful. She walked pretty well and many did not even know she had a hurt knee. Those who did know were pretty amazed and hoped she wasn't going to injure herself more. Her speech was beautiful, well written and confidently given. She wants to be on Family Feud so she can be with family. You can go to GoLakeChelan.com to see more pictures and see the calling of our princess to the Manson Apple Blossom court.

Citizen of the Year

This past Wednesday we had the honor of going to Kiwanis to honor their Citizen of the Year - Doug. Oops that was what Dale was told.
Arnold Baker began by announcing to the audience gathered at the Manson Grange Wednesday evening “We are proud to have this year’s recipient of the Kiwanis Citizen of the Year go to a descendent of a founding member, Leo England.” He then started to talk about how this recipient's son said at his senior presentation, "My dad buys and sells drugs." We then knew who the descendent of Leo was.

Arnold Baker gave the announcement. He had asked for a funny story to tell and the only one I could remember was the following:

(I am the narrator)

One winter Dale left with our boys and rode snowmobiles up to Slide Ridge to the TV tower with Don Riggin who lives on the south shore. I received a phone call from my son to see if I could see the fireworks they were setting off in the snow at the top of the mountain. I guess someone else also noticed the fireworks and called the police who went to check. They saw Don's truck and went to his house. Don's wife answered the door. The police officer asked if her husband was up snowmobiling. She replied yes. They told her people had reported seeing emergency flares on the mountain. She innocently told them, "Well yes he is up there with Dale Engand." Then the officers shook their heads and said, "Yeah well that figures," and that was all that was done.

Dale was clearly touched by the award. It's a show of support from the people he has served these past 25 years.

Injury in Pictures

I post this only to have the pictures. Then when we get the blog book we'll have this remembrance.

Nancy Miller and Heidi Neal have done a great job of photographing and reporting on Manson sports.

MRI

According to the tech she has a possible tear in the lateral miniscus, a partial or complete tear in the acl and a compression fracture. We did still travel to Oroville. The team pulled it out in the end with a win. Thanks for all the good words.

The Unner

Every year I read a book called, The Unner to my class. A boy receives a homemade contraption from someone in the future that tells him this will give him the ability to undo things in his life.

We would like someone to create that for us. Whitni could go back to halftime of her game on Tuesday and in the third quarter not run like crazy to get in front of the girl she was guarding. Pain and frustration would then be alleviated.

We go on Friday for an MRI on her knee. She went down after successfully getting in front of her girl. We were lucky that Dr. Dame was there. He is a doctor from the ward that works at the Columbia clinic in Chelan. Whitni has been seeing all the things she planned to do her senior year taking a back seat and maybe an exit. This is where as a mother it would be nice to get my homemade unner out and get her back to halftime with a warning to cool it and play a little more conservatively. Of course, that is not in her nature so we would probably again be wearing ice on the sideline.

Photos by Nancy Miller
Senior, Whitni England powers down the court just before her knee injury ended her play in her final home game as a Manson Lady Trojan

And a wonderful tribute to her from her coach, Chris Hill:

This was a bitter sweet win because we beat the team that we were tied with, but at the same time we lost our point guard who is one of our team leaders and one of the greatest kids I have ever coached! Whitni England went down with a knee injury, but we have not given up hope that she will be ready to play on Friday at Oroville. There is no girl around that has worked harder than Whitni and she deserved to have a great season, which is exactly what she has had so far this season.

Etiquette

How are you in observing the rules of etiquette? Every year the candidates and their escorts meet for a dinner. During the dinner they get to learn proper etiquette. This year a dear sister in the ward, Georgia Duff, (also my organ hero) taught these young men and women.

Here are the ten rules to use for impeccable table manners.

1. Always wait for the blessing before eating.
2. Always wait for the hostess to take the first bite before eating. (Janet just laughed as Whitni and I sat and sat waiting for her to sit and eat at Sunday dinner today.)
3. Place the napkin in your lap. (This always brings to mind the Homecoming dinner I served at a nice house on the lake. When we cleaned up after six youth, five napkins were still perfectly folded on the table. My daughter informed me the used napkin was, alas not hers, but that of one of the young men.)4. Know and use the proper silverware. (These kids were served soup, salad, main dish and dessert.)
5. Never overload your fork.
6. When using your knife, cut only one piece at a time.

7. Do not talk with your mouth full. (The kids were eerily quiet through most of the meal so I know this one was followed. They didn't know they were allowed to talk.)

8. Chew your food quietly with your mouth closed.

9. Eat slowly -- enjoy the meal.

10. Never rest your elbows on the table. (Can you rest the front part of your arms?)

This was a fun night for those of us who sat in the kitchen dishing up the food and enjoying visiting. Whitni called it awkward until they started warming up and talking a bit.

As Georgia says, "Good manners never go out of style!"

Our Little Princess Turns 18

That's right, folks! We no longer have any children in the house, they are now all legally adults.
Happy Birthday Whitni!

Whitni invited a few people and we had a party. Guitar Hero was fun to watch. I'd never seen this before. I had no idea how many components there could be, from drums to singing to two different guitars, but mostly LOUD!

Marissa bequeathed the princess crown to Whitni complete with blinking lights and pink duct tape.

Whitni's friend, Alejandra, brought her the cake. It was beautiful and delicious.

The gal to Whitni's right is the culprit in shoving her face, not once but about three times, into the cake.
Now, who wants a piece?

Thank you to all the kings and queens in my princess' life.