It is Christmas Break from Schools.

I played the organ for only the second time since October on Dec. 30, 2018.
(Due to my hysterectomy surgery)

When I got to the church at about 10:40 a.m., our Sacrament starts at
11:00 a.m., the ward that meets at 9:00 a.m. had closed the curtain
into the overflow and cultural hall and were holding a Sunday School
Class in the Cultural hall.

Our ward has filled EVERY chair in the cultural hall for the last
two weeks.  Dec. 30 had a missionary speak, going into the MTC on Jan. 2,
going to Paris.

Remember this is the LAST THREE hour block.

At 10:55, FIVE minutes before our Sacrament Meeting should have
started, someone opened the overflow curtains.  It appeared the other
ward had put everyone in the ward in that Cultural Hall Sunday Class.
Some of them stood up and scrambled out fast, appearing to be
embarrassed.  While others just stood there like they owned the place
and we could forget holding a Sacrament Meeting until they were done.

As the curtains opened, I noticed that there was NO Sacrament on the
Sacrament table.  I came in past the sacrament closet and no one was
working on it at the time I came in.

The first water trays arrived at 11:00, but there were only three.  By the
time we should have started, some of the other ward had left the cultural
hall and some of the people who were sitting in the chapel had moved
to the cultural hall.

We started at 11:05, five minutes late, with the sacrament still not done.
The lone Priest who had done the Sacrament table all alone, was still working
on putting bread on the trays when we started.  By 11:10 another priest
finally got to church and came up to help finish and cover the Sacrament
with the cloth.

The previous Bishop and one of his counselors passed the Sacrament
with two other adults.  They made a big mess of distributing the gluten free
sacrament to the several people in our ward that get what they bring.

Then the meeting went over about seven minutes.

I LIVE IN OREM UTAH.  This is the Cherry Hill 9th Ward in the Cherry Hill
Stake.  The way I calculate it, the same ward that ruined out start today
will be meeting BEFORE us in 2019.  We go from 11:00 to what would be
1:00, but will now be 12:00 with the two hour change.

The ward that met at 9:00 will be just before us.  I wonder what time they
start. . . . . .

I should note there were two speakers, the missionary leaving and his father.
The missionary spoke for 25 minutes on studying to feel the spirit, and his
Father spoke on the new study at home program set up by the church.
This family started working on this in October, and he detailed the
study program.  Their first meeting, the only thing they did was finally
agree on a time to meet on Sunday, which they have been using every since.

The talks were excellent, with an outstanding preface to everyone in the
ward meeting to study scriptures next Sunday.  The father pointed out that
the women want the men to lead the way, in setting up the time and getting
everyone together and leading the agenda, but they will support and help
and even SHARE the responsibilities as they work on this as a family.

Jeff Ivie has not been in the hospital since Christmas Eve.

I haven't talked to Janice in a couple of days, but Jeff had been home
a record stretch by that time.

They are supposed to have signed him up for Home Health Care
and one of the goals was to control his blood sugar levels.

University of Utah researchers link bad air and miscarriage

The link to this story is at the top.  There is a video and I don't know how to add a video to this
blog.

ABC4.com Video. Dr. Matthew Fuller, with the Division of Emergency Medicine at the University of Utah was the senior author of the study.

Women along Wasatch Front have higher risk of early miscarriage

Another inversion is expected to build back in next week. Poor air quality has been linked to numerous adverse health issues from asthma to pre-term birth.
Researchers at the University of Utah say they've found a link between pollution and miscarriages. Researchers at University of Utah Health found women living along the Wasatch Front, the most populous region in Utah, had a higher risk of miscarriage after exposure to elevated air pollution. 

Dr. Matthew Fuller, Senior Author, 'it's right to be cautious and concerned. We as Utahns see it every day and live it every winter in Utah.'

Dr. Matthew Fuller, with the Division of Emergency Medicine at the University of Utah was the senior author of the study.
He and his team, found a link between air pollution and miscarriage in women who were in the early part of their pregnancy, up to 20 weeks of gestation.

Dr. Fuller, 'we found an increased rate of miscarriage associated with poor air quality days with specifically with nitrogen dioxide...auto exhaust we also found a strong correlation with PM 2.5 which is the particulate matter you see in the air in Utah particularly foul air days.'

The team looked at 1300 women who had a miscarriage and looked at the risk of miscarriage during a 3 to 7 day window following a spike in bad air.

Fuller, 'that doesn't mean these pollutants are unique to Utah or Salt Lake City. These pollutants are found anywhere in the world where there is air pollution, industry and vehicle emissions. It pertains to each and everyone one of us. I would suggest women approach their obstetricians or talk with their partners about first when they want to conceive and avoid these poor air quality months I would suggest looking into that. Air quality is an issue that affects all of us and all of us need to work together to reduce air pollution.'

Dr. Fuller says more studies need to be done. He says if you are early in your pregnancy, reduce your time outside just like those who suffer from a chronic respiratory condition.
He also suggests having a charcoal HEPA filter.
 

Christmas 2018

It is Noah's Birthday Dec. 23

In Utah the Burdetts went bowling on Dec. 22.  Missing from the photos
are Nathan, Mark, Peggy, and McKay.  Missing from the event is Susan.
The Waldstads celebrated Noah's birthday on Dec. 23-his birthday.
He had a BIG cake from the bundt cake store, and his uncle made
him a really scary spider piniata.

I feel lucky my birthday is NOT in December.

Jeff Ivie is still in the Hospital or in the hospital again!

I didn't post about Jeff's most recent hospital visits because so many of my 2018
posts are about Jeff.

Jeff went in the hospital on November 19 and was in until December 4.
In case you missed it, Jeff was in the hospital on Thanksgiving.

He throws up and can't stop.  That is why he is admitted.

Before this whole mess started Jeff was doing e-cigarettes.  Obviously
in over two weeks time he has time to de-tox.  I don't know if he
totally quits or was doing e-cigarettes before each hospitalization.

Janice is extremely upset and I am getting really worried!

Jeff was home for two days and then started throwing up again.
He is in American Fork Hospital this time, which is where his
doctor is so that may help. . . . .

He was in the Emergency room for several hours before he was
admitted.

The stress is really getting to Janice and she stayed home from work
today, I am sure from fatigue.

I am extremely glad that none of "US" smoke.

Jacob went to DC to the Lincoln Memorial and the Natural History Museum

Where is this and how did they get a picture without other people in it?

How do you figure out Facebook Conservation Starter?

My last Facebook post for conversation starter was about a month ago.
I think they change things every month.  I am not sure I I stayed on the
whole month.

You're a Conversation Starter

You're great at making posts that people find valuable. Your conversation starter badge will show up next to your name on comments and posts.

Carly painted an Oil Painting

I think these are in reverse order.  The beginning one is third.
That is because my skills at downloading and posting photos are
weak.  The last photo group is from Elaine's Facebook post.

Carly wants to do a painting with a spray can.  But she used her dad's
oil paints to do this one with a brush.

Church of Jesus Christ of Latterday Saints changes to TWO hour block

Today in General Conference they announced that
the three hour block would be shortened to a two
hour block.

Sunday school will meet on the first and third
Sundays, with Relief Society and Priesthood
meeting on the second and fourth Sundays.

I think Primary meets each Sunday.

The change doesn't start until January 2019.

In my opinion this has been needed since the
three hour block started over 38 years ago.

Three hours is too long for babies, children,
senior citizens, teenagers.  I personally think
retention is marginal for anything taught in
the three hour block.

Jacob went to New York

Jacob went to New York for a one day workshop.  Mark thinks this is Times
Square.  I wonder how he took the picture.

Jeff Ivie is still throwing up

Jeff went to the doctor on Monday and threw up all over the
doctor.  Now they have order an MRI or CT scan of Jeff's brain
on Friday.

Jeff has been able to work to days this week, so he is somewhat
better, but his surgery was not real successful.

Millie started Pre School!

Cherry Hill Elementary has considerable turn over.  This is the SECOND
opening in the preschool program since school started about a month ago.
The first opening they tested two children and Millie was the winner
and so she didn't get to go to pre-school.  They picked a little boy who
scored lower than Millie on the test.  I don't know if they evaluated more
children or just let Millie have the next opening.

It is official.  During pre-school Elsie is the only one home.  I don't
know how she is with Mary, but Elsie enjoys being alone at my place.

Half of Utah County is on Fire--Air Quality is BAD

Friday Morning when I went to Adam's so Mary could take the boys to school, the
smoke was so bad in Orem, it hurt my lungs.  I have never had pneumonia and
can't believe how much this hurts me.  Friday morning the wind was blowing all
the fire smoke north and Orem and Utah County north were eating and breathing
the fire smoke more than the people closer to the fire.

By Afternoon you couldn't taste the smoke when you went outside in Orem,
 but the air quality was
still really bad.  I went out Saturday to get a mask and eye drops.  Walmart said they
were out of masks and wouldn't get any in until Sunday night so they wouldn't be in
the store until Monday.  Mark found a package of 2 somewhere in the store and we
bought them and then I bought a large bottle of liquid tear eye drops too.

This morning our apartment is filled with smoke, despite the fact we have had a
clean air purifier going for a week.  When Mark gets up we can go get a filter for
the air purifier.

I can't find out this morning if any homes have burned.   Both of these fires are
in Utah County.

Utah County Commissioner Bill Lee issued a crisis declaration Saturday morning hoping to get more firefighting resources and generate public awareness about the dangerous fires that have burned a combined 80,000 acres and caused evacuations.

The Pole Creek Fire burned 62,844 acres.

The Bald Mountain Fire, burning just to the east, burned 17,760 acres.

These fire evacuations were as of Saturday Sept. 16.

Fire officials anticipate closures and evacuations will remain in place for at least another 48 hours. The following evacuations and closures are still in place:

-Santaquin Canyon is closed.

-Payson Canyon is closed.

-Nebo Loop Road at SR-132 in Nephi Canyon is closed.

-US Highway 89, in Spanish Fork Canyon, is closed from mile 312, at Thistle Junction, to mile 298, at the Utah /Sanpete County line.

-US Highway 6 through Spanish Fork Canyon is now closed as of 1:21 PM.

-Diamond Fork Canyon and Sheep Creek are now, as of 1:21 PM, under pre-evacuation notice.

-MANDATORY EVACUATION STILL IN EFFECT – PLEASE ABIDE BY CLOSURE AND EVACUATION NOTICES:

-All residents living along US HWY-89 in the area from Nebo Creek to Thistle Junction.

-All residents in Covered Bridge community near the mouth of Spanish Fork Canyon.

-All residents living in the cities of Woodland Hills and Elk Ridge.

Herald Extra.com Pole Creek Fire within 1/2 mile of residences

Facebook Conversation Starter

Peggy Burdett shared a link.

Conversation Starter · 

Just now

I posted on August 26 that Facebook was posting a  conservation starter
by my posts and comments in the Page Utah Republicans Unofficial Group.
I guess they took it off because when I saw the notification again today
I looked and the thing was not by my name.

Some day I am going to figure out how this works.

Now I am one of 8 people consistently creating meaningful discussions
with my posts.  Last time I was one of only three.

You can see my picture on this as one of the 8.

Peggy Burdett shared a link.

Conversation Starter · 

Just now

Conversation Starter

Don and 8 others are consistently creating meaningful discussions with their posts.

You're a Conversation Starter

You're great at making posts that people find valuable. Your conversation starter badge will show up next to your name on comments and posts.

Jeff has an infection where his gall bladder was

I realize this blog is turning into a Jeff Ivie Saga, but he really isn't getting many
breaks.

Jill, Jeff's sister took Jeff to get a CT Scan today and it showed he has an infection
where his gall bladder was.


They are starting Jeff on antibiotics.

Nathan has an Associate Degree from Utah Valley University

Nathan posted the following on Facebook.  After making the discovery
that he actually has an Associate Degree from UVU,  Nathan also found
out he can transfer his credits to University of Utah.

With this verification, Nathan promptly dropped his classes this semester
 at UVU and is planning to apply to University of Utah.

"after calling and demanding the graduation office defend their decision to send me a diploma, it turns out what i thought to be a clerical error on their part was, in fact, an accidental graduation on my part. i’m glad the drink i set on it didn’t leave a ring."

Do these babies look alike?

The first two pictures are of Danny Hales' baby Hudson when he was 4 months old.

Erin Marie Hales

6 hrs · 

We are obsessed with this WILD baby! Hudson brings so much happiness and fun to our lives! He is the chilliest little baby 😎 Always smiling and chatting! I absolutely love being his mom. Happy 4 months little guy! ❤️❤️

These photos are of McKay when he was four months old.  I have never seen
Hudson.  Yesterday I was with McKay and I think he looks a lot like the above pictures
of Hudson.  I can't believe it.

Jeff came Home

Jeff came home from the hospital this morning and then
spent the day alone.  His wife worked and Jill his
sister babysat his kids at her house.

Jeff Ivie is still in the hospital

Jeff is still in the hospital.  He had surgery on August 21, 2018.
It will be two weeks Tuesday since his surgery.  They put a PICC
line in on Thursday, August 30, the day before Linda's funeral.

At first I was really worried about the PICC line, but IV's are not
designed to last TWO WEEKS! 

A Peripherally Inserted Central 
Catheter, or "PICC line," is a thin, soft plastic tube — 
like an intravenous (IV) line — that allows you to receive
 medicines and fluids. 
A PICC line stays in place for as long as needed.  The PICC
line replaces the IV, which infiltrates and won't work LONG
term.

Jeff is not really cordial to Janice's visits so I have not tried to visit him.

Jeff is still throwing up and can't keep anything down, even with
IV fluids and medication.

Janice is stressed to the max.  Add Jeff on top of Linda, and I am
not sure how much more stress Janice can take.

Linda's funeral Friday August 31, 2018

•  Eddie's family.  Eddie is holding hands with his wife.  I don't know the rest of them.

They talked about Linda's love of BYU football games at the funeral.

They bought Navy blue Y ties for the pall bearers.