Out of Jail and the Final Countdown Begins

**Disclaimer: Today, Blogspot is being very weird. I have had a multitude of issues, mostly with formatting. If you see words in blue or green, oddly double-spaced lines, or words unnecessarily underlined, it's not my fault.**

**Also - you'll need to scroll to the right in order to read in certain areas. Fault = Blogspot

Scott is out of "jail" (quarantine) as of Saturday morning and is free to roam a bit more as time allows on the base. This is a HUGE step toward coming home and we are feeling the excitement building in these final few days.

Scott (shown below) on the bus from the quarantine area of the desert (New Mexico portion of Fort Bliss) and headed to El Paso and to the main portion of Fort Bliss. 

Getting some medical checks taken care of.

Waiting in line to get a room for the next week.

This is his final lodging before he comes home.

The view from his room and looking down to the area where he had to go collect his duffel bags.

Friday we found out that his final processing would take twice as long as we expected. That was pretty devastating to both of us. Everyone that Scott had been in contact with who had gone through these stages ahead of him all reported that the processing (after quarantine) only took about 3 days. So we thought he would be coming home on Tuesday or even Wednesday. But no. He'll be coming home on Saturday! A full week of processing, instead of 3 days. 

I know, I know. A few more days isn't that big of a deal. But when you haven't seen each other in 10 months, every day that gets tacked on feels like an eternity. 

But at least we have something to count down to. We don't know what time he's flying in yet, but we just know that it will be on Saturday, August 15th. 

We still plan to go up to the Coeur d'Alene area for a few days, and we tweaked a few things in the schedule to make it work. 

In other news:

We got this picture of Hannah and her pitiful looking car during the week.

She shared this account when we asked What Happened?!?

"I was just driving home from work and my bumper caught this little rough patch of road and I just felt my bumper kinda fall off and something go wrong with the tire where I couldn't drive it. Luckily my supervisor had just supervised my session so she stopped and gave me a ride back to the clinic."

They are having the car assessed at the mechanic shop for cost, but we're pretty sure they will just be getting Hannah a new car. The value on it right now is far below what the projected repairs will be.

We're just glad she wasn't in a serious accident where she could have been really hurt!

The rest of the week feels like a blur. Every day there are apricots to pick by the gallon. Here are some pictures of the pickins and the work put into collecting all of them.

In all, I've picked a good 15 gallons or more of apricots and the tree is still loaded!! 

I've given all of it away, including several gallons' worth to the Community Food Basket (our local Food Bank in Idaho Falls). 

Monday: Amber made it home safely that evening, much to her daughters' elation! She had a wonderful time with Weston down in San Antonio. They spent an entire day (last Saturday), from opening to closing, at Six Flags and they loved every minute of it. Amber came home refreshed (but tired) and happy.

Gwen loved playing with Amber's hair and then wrapping her arms around Amber's neck to squish her in a big hug.

I also went to the chiropractor on Monday and this time he tried LED lights, called Celluma (cell-regeneration + light). It's low-level light therapy and is supposed to increase micro-circulation and decrease pain, stiffness and spasms in the muscles. It didn't hurt at all, and I was willing to try something new to help with my carpal tunnel issues.

It looked like this:

And here's a short video of what it was doing:

https://photos.app.goo.gl/mvhXs6YffqZAGpNh8

Between this and one other technique that the chiropractor tried (a percussion instrument that vibrated around my elbow area to re-set the fascia surrounding my forearm muscles), I felt like a million bucks when I left his office. I had been having pain around a 5-6 all day, but after I left his office, I didn't even notice any pain the rest of the day.

 

Tuesday: I hurried to get things in order for our first young women class activity since COVID took over the world. The girls came over later that evening to decorate cookies to deliver to some new families in the neighborhood. 

They had a lot of fun talking and laughing while decorating, and they were SO CREATIVE!!

This scene is of a teddy bear camping. He's hanging out in the hammock with the campfire and camp chair behind him.

And this bear is doing yoga (upside down).

Abby and Gwen got to decorate a cookie too.

And Abby made me a special cookie while I was out with the girls delivering.

Also on Tuesday, I went to the physical therapist. This time, he tried a new technique, called Graston massage. He used a metal tool, that looked like a butter knife, to massage my forearms for several minutes each. The goal is to break down any scar tissue, or to smooth out bumpy or ropey muscles.

The tool looks like this: (I think he used one like the 3rd one down)

It wasn't super horrible while he was working on my arms, but it felt like a deep tissue massage. Later, I realized that I was showing a lot of bruising .

Even now, almost a week later, I am still bruised and tender, but not quite as tender as I was before. I didn't want anyone to touch my arms at all! And I've never cringed at the thought of a massage, but my massage was the day after the Graston techniqe at the PT. I was scared. But I am strong, and I did okay. I have to go in tomorrow to have it done ALL OVER AGAIN. :(

Wednesday: Amber got a huge 4x8 foot masonite board at Lowes, and turned it into a giant chalkboard! I think her supplies were around $40 total for the board, chalkboard paint, and misc. supplies.

 

Abby also came out to help me round up apricots that evening, while she waited for Gwen to fall asleep. (They have staggered bedtimes in the hopes of better sleep for both girls)

Thursday: I picked up even more apricots, and even got up on the ladder to pick another gallon or so. I took this round over to the Community Food Basket. They were very grateful for the fresh produce!

Abby wanted to help me with the mopping, so I happily let her take over. :)

Thursday evening, I also went over to the Idaho Falls Airport to pick up Mike Schwendiman, my sister Melanie's husband. He came up to spend some time with his daughter, Natalie, and has stayed here at our house for a few days.

Here he is showing Abby several of the castles around the world on his laptop. She really enjoyed learning about some of the fancier castles, like Neuschwanstein Castle in Germany, that inspired the castle in the movie Cinderella.

And he really got attached to the two girls, too! Here they are watching a Book of Mormon video together before church this morning. I think he misses having little ones around. His children are 20, 17, and 14 (?). (I think)

Friday:  Coy and Phil came over to rest for a little bit in between doctor appointments. Coy went to the cardiologist and had a gammut of testing to endure in phases, while only able to drink liquids and no food. She took a nice rest on my bed before having to go back for more testing, while Dad went out back to read on the patio, but ended up taking a nice nap out in the fresh air. What a cutie! :)

Gwen, meanwhile, wanted to go out and swing in her Rapunzel dress. We made sure to be quiet so as not to disturb Grandpa while he napped. 

Saturday: While Scott was getting "paroled" (from quarantine), Amber and I took the girls down to the waterfalls in downtown Idaho Falls. In lieu of the usual Snake River Roaring Youth Jam, a jam-packed festival of music and arts for the youth, they had to change things up a bit this year because of the pandemic. Instead of having booths with art projects and stages filled with aspiring young talent, they put together "Grab-n-Go" art project kits.

 

So we picked up two kits for the girls, and then strolled along the river, enjoying the sights, the fresh air, and later we bought some corn dogs at one of the Farmers Market booths.

This time, the girls found bears . . .

And wolves . . .

And bighorn sheep . . .

We also visited the Japanese Friendship Garden again, a favorite for sure!

Gwen, marching off into the sunset. Look out world!!

All of these beautiful sculptures have been made by local artists, and adorn both sides of the Snake River along the Greenbelt.

 

This plaque particularly caught my eye. What a profound thought. We are all children of God, and we should treat each other fairly, kindly, and equally.

Later that afternoon, Amber helped the girls do one of the art projects in their special bags that we brought home. They chose to do the solar system mobile. They colored their planets and then cut them out. Amber showed Gwen how to be more thoughtful and careful in cutting something out, instead of demolishing it as usual with her scissors, ha ha. 

She took the task very seriously and did a fantastic job!!

Abby had fun spilling out all the crayons after her project was done. I told her it looked like the container had barfed. Amber, ever so creative, suggested that Abby reverse the barfing process and scoop them all up to put back in the container. With a little help, she did it!

Gwen's mobile is hanging from the ceiling in the kitchen, because that's where she indicated that she would like to hang it when Amber asked for ideas. :)

Natalie, my niece, had been staying here with us too for a couple of nights in order to have quality time with her dad. But Saturday evening, she had to head back up to Rexburg. Before she left, she asked if it would be okay to take some apricots with her to share with some friends. OF COURSE YOU CAN!!

So we went out and picked about 3 more gallons worth and sent her happily on her way.

Still later Saturday evening, I went with Amber and the girls to our friend's wedding reception in the neighborhood. Amber and I had a great time catching up with old friends and enjoying some sugary treats with Abby and Gwen.

The view as I began walking home with a beautiful sunset forming.

From Italy:

I talked with Benson and Kylie for over an hour this afternoon!! It was marvelous. It literally felt like I was hanging out with them in their living room, laughing and talking.

Millie, the smallest bunny (and Bunny #3) hopped up on Kylie's back at one point.

Kylie held up Millie with Theo for size comparison. Theo is Bunny #2, the neighborhood rescue.

I commented on how I liked Benson's 80's hairstyle. So Kylie started ruffling his hair and tried a few new styles just for fun.

While we were visiting, Bunny #1, Pippin, kept finding ways to escape his room down the hall. They couldn't figure out how he was doing it, so "we" set up watch together.

This is the blockade in the doorway of his room. He's by himself because he isn't getting along with Theo right now, and until Millie gets fixed they can't fraternize. :) But he is extremely social and wants to be where the people are.

Standing watch . . .

One of the ways they've tried to keep him in, but he chews through the gate.

They tried letting him hang out in a gated area, but somehow he lifted the heavy cage and escaped!

As of now, he hops up on the kennel and then off to freedom. What a silly!

I also got to watch the puppies playing all over the room. Kylie has trained them to stay in the living room and not to cross the line. See them here just laying there waiting for Benson and Kylie to come back. What good puppies!

Koda is 30 lbs now, while Mocha is 25 lbs.

Belly rub time . . .

Seeing Benson and Kylie so happy makes me so happy. They are so far away from family, and they are young, but they are figuring life out together. What a wonderful thing!!

Benson says that he has started some college courses through the Air Force. He is working on his Associate's Degree right now, to be followed by a Bachelor's Degree, and he even wants to pursue a Master's Degree! He will be studying Aeronautical Engineering. Wow. Just wow. I'm so proud of that kid. :)

It's been a good week. A long week, and not the most productive week, but a good week. My arms are feeling better. My apricots are almost done. And my husband is almost home. 

Just hang in there everyone.