Humboldt County Fair/CascadeMeadows, LaPine OR 8/8/11-8/30/11

After laying around in bed and in recliners in the house and on the patio, I was going pretty crazy.  After my surgery, we moved into the house with Lorrie because I couldn't get up and down into the Condo.  Thank goodenss for Marcie and the kids coming over pretty often--they helped to "entertain" us.  Terry is not really cut out to be a very good nurse, and I am a terrible patient, so both of us were anxious for me to get back on my feet. 

 A week after surgery, they took out the staples in my incisions and they began to heal pretty good.  The doctor gave me a boot cast instead of a plaster cast, which was great because I was able to take it off to shower and after a week or so, I was able to sleep without it on.

About three and a half weeks after surgery, my Scentsy director asked us to go to the Humboldt County Fair in northern California to do an 11-day fair with her.  I re-arranged my Drs appointments and off we went, with a walker, a wheel chair, and crutches!  I could put a little weight on my foot after about 4 weeks, so I learned to get up and down out of our camper and Terry pushed me in the wheel chair to and from the Scentsy booth at the fairgrounds in Ferndale, CA.  It was a really fun, but pretty tiring, experience doing the fair with Mary and her grandaughter, Elaina.  We did pretty good and sold most of our inventory of Scentsy products.

After leaving California, on the bay back to Emmett, Terry and I went to a campground in LaPine OR, called Cascade Meadows.  We hadn't been there before.  It is just a short ways from our Thousand Trails home park in Bend OR.  Our TT park doesn't have sewer hook-ups and we had wanted to try out this park.   

Cascade Meadows is a very nice park.  All of the sites are on the grass, but not too many with trees.  They have these cute little bears carved and in trees in several parts of the park.

There is a really nice pool that I was able to soak my foot in while sitting on the side.  They even had a craft sale while we were there and so we were able to sell some more Scentsy, while meeting other campers.  Come to find out, one of the workers at the campground was a guy we knew from Emmett!  You never know!

 They put us in a far corner of the park when we first got there, but then after we explained my non-walking situation, they let us move up closer to the clubhouse/office/pool.  We had a nice little patio set up with our new Scentsy awning!  The weather was really nice and we spent most of the week sitting out under the awning in our lounge chairs, recouperating from the fair.

Our site was close to the restrooms and the laundry so I managed to get along pretty good.  By this time, I could put quite a bit of weight on my leg, but I wasn't sure I was suposed to yet.  I was a little anxious about going back to the Doctor--afraid he may be unhappy with how much I had been walking on it!

We had made plans to meet up with Bob and Lolita (Terry's sister) the last few days we were in Cascade Meadows.  It was fun being with them again.  We got in quite a bit of pinocle playing before we left.

We have Howard cousins who live in Eastern Oregon and they happened to be in the park when we were there!  Bob and Lolita knew them, be we had never met them.  Debbie is acutally the daughter of one of Terry's cousins, Bob Howard.  He may have met her a long time ago, but I never had.  We hope to see them again along the RV trail this year.

The Mountain, Hell's Canyon 7/12/2011

The whole time we were at McCormick Park, my brother, Bill, kept saying that we had to drive up through Halfway, OR, to the top of the mountain that looks down over McCormick Park. Well, after all of our kids left and the only ones in camp were Larry and Elaine's family, Danielle and her family, and Terry and I, we made the trip.

What a view it was.  We could see all the way from Woodhead Campground, on down to Brownlee Dam and down the Snake River past McCormick Park.  I couldn't get it all in one picture, so here is one of the bridge going across the river from Idaho into Oregon, McCormick Park, and on down the river.

About 15 years ago, Bill's son, Bill Jr., and some of his friends had hiked down the mountain to the Park.  Bill always wanted to do it and decided that today was the day.  He told me that I wasn't getting any younger and said I should come, along with Mike and Andy, Larry and Elaine's sons.  I told him I was too old to go with them!


I could zoom in with my camera from all that way and see McCormick, with our pontoon boat and Bill's boat parked on the bank.
 

Zooming in further, I could see our pickup and camper with the canopy put up between us and Larry and Elaine's motorhome.  Even though it is a little blurry, you can actually see people walking around down there!

The "gang" all waved at me as we walked up to their starting point to start the hike down to camp, Larry and Terry in front, with Bill, Andy, and Mike behind.

Well, when we got to the starting point, I looked down and told Terry, "I would really like to be able to say that I did this!"  He said he didn't think I should, but it was up to me.  Well, he gave me his bottle of water, a good-by kiss, and said, "If you break your leg, I am going to Alaska (in about a week) without you and will find me a little Eskimo Pie to go with me!"  No worries!  RIGHT!

Well, the mountain was AWFULL!  It was so steep that we had to hang onto the weeds to keep from sliding down (thanks for the tip about the weeds, Andy.)  The bad thing was, about a third way down, I started getting a little dizzy.  I had been having a few problems with low blood pressure and I guess it kicked in from the strenuous activity.  I had to sit down quite often.  When Bill took a picture of me sitting down, I told Mike and Andy they had to sit with me so I didn't look like the only wuss!  They were good sports.

Well, eventually, because I was so slow, Mike and Andy went on ahead a little and good ole brother Bill stayed behind with me.  At one point, I was getting kind of shaky from being dizzy, I said a little prayer and asked for help to get down off the mountain.  A person should be careful about what they ask for, because it wasn't long after that when I slipped with my left foot on some loose rocks and didn't get my right leg in front of me before I fell on it.  SNAP, CRACKLE, POP.  I hollered at Bill and told him that I had just broke my leg! 

Bill went ahead to catch up with Mike and Andy to let them know and to have them get some help for me.  They headed down the mountain lickity-split--much faster than they had intended.  Bill came back and helped me scoot down to a big rock that offered a little shade.  He then kept climping up on a high point so he could guide anyone coming back up the hill--back and forth checking on me.

Well, I guess Mike went to the first house he found and had them call 911.  Andy took off for camp, and even after getting a ride the last little ways, he was so out of breath and panicky that he could hardly tell them what happened.  Terry and Larry had just barely gotten back to camp from driving Bill's pickup down from the top of the mountain where we started.  Terry slipped on his new "Crocks" (what was he thinking--you don't climb mountains in crocks!) and Danielle grabbed her medical tubby (she is an OB RN) and headed for the bottom of the mountain to climb it to my rescue.

As I was sitting there waiting and looking down the long ways to the bottom of that mountain, I was really feeling foolish and hated the thoughts of all of the trouble I had caused because I hadn't listened to the advice of my husband!  One good thing, after I kind of twisted my foot to point it in its normal direction, it and my leg sort of went numb, so it wasn't too painful. 

Terry and Danielle got up the mountain first.  Danielle had my leg all checked out for blood pulse and determined there was no compound fracture or anything.  She had started wrapping it.  When the Idaho Power first responders got there, she tried to turn it over to them, but they said she out-ranked them and asked her what she wanted them to do!  I told them that she was an OB RN and they could do whatever she said, just to not let her put my legs up in stirrups!


Well,they did a great job getting the straightest sticks they could find for Danielle to splint my leg, and then strapping me onto the board to carry me off of the mountain.  They asked me how much I weighed and I felt really bad when I had to tell them how much.  It took 5-6 of them at a time to carry me!  As they were carrying me, I told them that I had lied about my weight--that I actually only weighed 100 pounds. They all agreed that knowing that made the task much easier!
 

After climbing up a ways, they decided that there was no good place for life flight to land their helicopter, and the mountain was too steep to get close enough to sling me up to the helicopter (thank goodness).  Besides, it would have been about an hour and a half wait for the life flight because it was out on another call.


So, after resting a bit, they decided which way would be the best route off the mountain.  There seemed to be a consensus. 


It was a pretty warm day and the terrain was so bad that they had to rest quite often and trade off carrying me. Once in a while one of them would slip, but he was held up by all of the others carrying me on the board. I am so thankful that none of them got any serious injuries while helping me. Danielle, Bill (documenting it all for posterity), and Terry (in his crocks) followed along in case they were needed for something more.

One of the ambulance drivers even climbed the mountain after they got there and pulled a shift carrying me.  I never thought I would ever be in this position.  Thank goodness for all of these good men that volunteer when their help is needed!  And good friends, a niece, a brother, and a husband who are willing to climb a mountain for you!

Time for another rest!

We are getting a little closer to the bottom!  Terry was walking like I was going to get a good lecture when this is all over with!

Thank goodness, we are heading down the last hill!

Danielle waved to Bill for the last picture on the mountain!

I am sure everyone was glad to see the ambulance.  There were good neighborhood people waiting to give all of the volunteers water and other liquid to drink.  Thank you so much!

After about four hours from the time I broke my leg, they were loading me into the ambulance, ready to head to Baker City, OR, to the ER room.  Many, many thanks to all of those who helped me this day!

On the way to the hospital, they kept telling me that they could give me some morphine when the pain got too bad.  But, for some reason, the pain was pretty tolerable, so I kept telling them I didn't need anything.  Initially, they had called into the hospital that they were transporting a woman with a fractured leg.  Because of  "little pain" they changed the diagnosis to a sprained ankle before we got there.  I thought, "Great--all of these people carried me off the mountain and made all of this fuss for a sprained ankle!" 

After bringing me back out of x-ray, the young x-ray tech said she couldn't tell us what she saw, but she said, "I can tell you that when I show the x-rays to the Dr., he will be right in to see you!"  I didn't think I would be almost happy that I had a broken leg instead of a sprained ankle!  I ended up with a spiral break of my fibula and the end of the tibia being broken at the ankle.  The Dr. splinted my leg and sent us back to camp (after making me take some pain pills which I still didn't need and threw up on the way home) to spend the night before heading back to Emmett.


They gave me crutches at the Baker City hospital (which I couldn't use very well), and after a nice spit bath in the restroom, I spent the night in a lounge chair next to our camper before we left for Emmett the next day.  Everyone came to say good-by and good luck and I tried to thank them for all they had done for me.

I had surgery two days later and now when I act sort of dingy, Terry can just say, "Don't mind her--she just has a screw loose."  Well, as you might guess, we didn't go to Alaska.  Terry decided to stick around and be my "care giver."  He said that there is always next year.  What a great guy!

McCormick Park, Hell's Canyon 6/30/2011 - 7/13/2011

After the  Imlay Family Reunion, we headed to Emmett for three weeks and started planning for our big trip to Alaska the middle of July.  Terry built a stinger for the back of the pickup so we could carry the platform behind the camper.  He got the boat ready for McCormick for when we were going to Hell's Canyon the first of July.  I kept busy gathering stuff for Lorrie's annual garage sale, and I put together a quilt for the Church's humanitarian project.  It was just long enough to catch our breath before getting on the road again.  We try not to be a pest to my sister, Lorrie, and just park behind the house and plug in.  We use the master bathroom in the house, but try not to disrupt her life too much!  So, on June 30 we headed out to meet up with Shay and his family at McCormick Park at Hell's Canyon.

After Shay's family got there and we all got set up, first thing on the agenda was fishing.

Marissa was the first to catch a fish. 



Sean was the send one and there were different opinions about which one was the biggest!



Later on, Shay and Terry had to compare their catches!

Tyson had to work a little longer and harder, but also caught fish.

The next day, we all loaded up in our pickup and camper (with a couple of kids riding in the camper) and headed to La Grande to Ryan's home, where we also met up with Jill and her family.  Riley got baptized the next day.  We had a great time the night before up on the "Hibbard Mountain" where we had a hotdog and hamburger cook-out with them and some of Lori's family.  Then Lori had a great meal ready for everyone the next day after the baptism.  Congratulations, Ryley!  We are proud of you.
We and Shay left, with Ryan and family planning to come to McCormick the next week, and Jill and Dan went on to Cascade for the 4th of July and McCormick after that.  (What a job keeping up with all of these kids!)

On Sunday we got ready and went into Halfway to Church.  They have a little branch there and we have gone there so many times that we know quite a few of the members.  It is always fun to see them again, especially when we can take some of our kids and grandkids with us.

On Sunday afternoon we went on a ride in the boat.

Bill lost something in the water, so he decided to try to find it.  I don't think he ever succeeded, but it looks like he is getting some support from Shay's dog, Dax.  Bill dog-sat Das while we went to Ryan's and they became pretty good buddies.

Most times we get to see some of the local wildlife in the area.  This time was no exception.  This mountain sheep was walking on the road across from the river and I zoomed in on it with my camera.  It has a collar on that shows it is being tracked for data.

Bill got his tube out and gave Shay's kids rides.  They were the only kids here at the time so they had a monopoly on the tube, which they enjoyed.  Sean is getting ready to go.

Marissa and Emily are having a great time!

Tyson is modeling his Dad's special hat!

Shay's family had to leave and Jill, Ryan, and Sarah and their kids all showed up.  I went around with my camera to see what all of the grandkids/cousins were doing.  Chaz, JT, and Lindee were up on our bed watching a movie on our little CD player.

Boe, Wesley, and Luke were in Jill's trailer playing games.

Jenna,Kamber, and Ryley were up in the bed in Ryan's borrowed trailer from his in-laws, just giggling and being girls.


The Mom's and Dads, Sarah, Red Ryan, Bald Ryan, and Jill were enjoying the peace and quiet for a little pinochle.

           The girls had fun playing in the water and posing for Grandma's camera.



Wesley, Boe, and JT thought it was fun swimming under Grandpa's pontoon boat.

Before Uncle Bill would take the kids tubing, he made them do "chores."  He gave them buckets to go clean up the shore line.  The ones who picked up the most trash got to go first.  Great idea!

Jill and Chaz went together.

 

                                                           Lindee and Jenna were next.

Bill tried to dunk Wesley and Boe, but they hung on tight and stayed on the tube.  Thanks, Uncle Bill, for all of the fun!

One of the favorite games when we go camping with everyone is "golf-shoes."  Anyway, that is what all of us Howards call it.  My niece's boys, Garrett and Trestin are playing with cousins JT, Chaz, and Luke.

Lindee has her own way of playing golf-shoes!

The girls never got tired of playing with Barbie dolls, most of which were supplied by friends, Elaine and Larry's granddaughter, Cloe.  Here is Kamber, Ryley, Cloe, Jenna, and Alexia (Danielle's daughter) posing with the Barbie dolls.

Danielle always brings the coolest crafts for the kids.  All of the girls got to make as many bows as they wanted to.  Danielle and Sarah are helping Lindee, Jenna, Kamber, and Ryley.

Jenna, Ryley, and Kamber each had enough bows to cover their whole heads!

                                                Lindee is proud of her bow.

Danielle's husband, Than, brought a great craft for the boys.  They made fishing lures!  He told them that whoever caught the first fish with their new lure would get to make another one!

I am not sure who won, but they each make great lures.  Showing them off are Luke, Boe, Wesley, and JT.

The girls caught Uncle Bill asleep and covered the bill of his hat with bows.  He didn't even wake up while they were decorating him!  I think they wore him out tubing!

Several evenings we spent over at Uncle Bill's fire pit and roasted marshmallows and made s'mores.

My sister, Lorrie, and Kamber getting ready to make a s'more.

One of the last nights, Terry took Jill and I out in the boat.  We each caught a really nice trout.  As you can see, mine was a little bit bigger!  We cooked them on the barbecue the next day.  Yummy! 

Mike and Janet (my brother) and their son, Todd, and family came the last weekend.  Some of us hadn't met Todd's wife, Jackie, or seen his little boy, Jonre, so it was really fun getting to know them!  It was Jackie's and Jonre's first time camping.  Todd and Jackie slept in a tent while Jonre slept in the camper with Grandma and Grandpa.  I am not sure who got the most sleep, but they all looked a little tired the next morning!

Great times at McCormick again!