May 29, 1989 Orem, Utah
Dearest John; Roy, Patrice & Emily; Bob, Claire, Michael, Laura, Brett & Katie; Rick, Jean, Ricky, Barbara Jean, Mary Ann & Sarah; and Ron, Ann, Susanna, Jessie, Russell, LeeAnna & Jimmy:
A beautiful but cool morning here in Orem - Daddy is out mowing the lawns!!! We have had the coolest Spring since we have moved to Utah and I believe the windiest - the high today is supposed to be about 60 and here it is the last of May. At least we're not having snow like they are in Montana!!!!
The big news for this week is that BOB HAS DONE A BEAUTIFUL JOB IN RESTRUCTURING JOHN'S NOSE!!!!! We hope he knows how much we appreciate all he has done for us - we couldn't believe it yesterday when he took the bandages off - it has only been five days since he had the surgery and you can't even see any stitches and the nose is as perfect as any nose could be. It's so funny, I have never noticed noses until recently and now that's the first thing I see when I look at people. I don't know if that's good or not but I want to tell people who have funny noses that they need to see Bob - Ha!!!!
John went up to stay with Bob & Claire on Tuesday afternoon so he could have all the preliminary blood tests, etc. and he had a fun evening with them and also bicycling all around Layton and going to see the Weinerts - he and Jean went to have a yogurt and just have fun together. Bob did the surgery on Wednesday morning and it took him about 3 and 1/2 hours so you know what a perfectionist he is!!!! Bob called us soon after it was over to give us a report and then he and the nurses took care of John that night. We went up on Thursday morning to get him and he was hungry and ready to get out of the hospital so you know he was doing pretty good. We visited with Claire and Rick & Jean and the children for a little while and then even stopped in Salt Lake to see our Prudential Bache Broker for about an hour while John slept in the car. We got home early afternoon and John was happy to get in our recliner and just sleep and sleep.
Bob came down later Thursday evening and I was SO happy to have him here to check John - John really was feeling the pain about then!!! Bob & Daddy went to the cabin Friday morning and they had a WONDERFUL time - they caught about ten huge fish and would have caught more but they left their bait (cheese, etc.) in their boat and the seagulls came and got it. They came home Saturday afternoon and Bob could check John again and that was a relief. John had planned to go to school on Friday but he soon changed his mind - he was one sick kid until about Sunday afternoon. He went to some of his church meetings on Sunday.
John REALLY appreciated all your support. He said Claire was so good to him while he stayed with them; Jeannie visited him in the hospital and took him a "posie" and a Pepsi; Ann & Ron came by see him and brought him a pizza; and Roy called to see how everything went. It means SO much to Daddy & me to have you all interested in each other and willing to help. We're willing to help each one of you too if we only know when you need it!!!!
We feel like we really acknowledged Memorial Day. When we lived away from Utah, it was just another holiday but since we have been back it has new meaning. We drove to Manti on Sunday evening and took flowers for Grandma & Grandpa Mellors' graves. Yesterday morning we went to northern Utah. We drove first to Layton and visited with Claire and the children for a little while - their back yard is just gorgeous and it was fun to be there with their children. Then Bob took us to his office where he took John's stitches out and he cleaned out Daddy's ears and gave me a hearing test (I'm really quite deaf) - he also arranged for us to go to the lab at his hospital and have our complete blood cholesterol test - we'll get the results today. I'm sure that by now Bob considers us a real liability - we won't have to have anything done again for a long, long time - I hope!!!!! I'm going to start using Daddy's hearing aid - he doesn't ever use it - and if it helps I will get another one.
After we left Bob's office he told us he was ready to go to Brigham City with us - I COULDN'T BELIEVE IT!!!! We just had a wonderful, wonderful time - we visited the cemetery and put flowers on Grandma & Grandpa Forrests' graves and also little Christophers. Then we drove by my old home - it is for sale and that is kinda' depressing - then we went to see Dee & Judy. They were really sweet - Dee especially. They gave me a big box of keepsakes, including a lot of pictures that I will just love and also mine & Lela's dolls - they are about 60 years old but I am thrilled to have them. I went through some of the keepsakes last night and among them was Lela's diary - reading through it was quite sad but I'm SO glad he would give it to me. I am convinced after going through some of the pictures that little Laura is my one grand daughter who looks like me - SHE REALLY DOES - I believe I told you that one of Bob's nurses told me that when she first met me.
After we took Bob home we went to see Jean and the children and we were SO surprised to find Ann & the children there. Jean was giving Ann a permanent and the children were on their way to see a movie - they had had a wonderful time together. Rick and Ricky have been on a four day trip to Yellowstone - we are SO anxious to hear about their trip - they were going canoeing and it sounded like an absolutely perfect Father & Sons' outing and we're thrilled they could go - every Father needs to do things like that with their sons.
Roy & Patrice - before I run out of room. We plan to be in Little Rock Sat. & Sun. June 17th & 18th - we would LOVE to care for little Emily while you go to the wedding. Let's plan to stay in the same motel - we'll call you. I wish John could come too. Patrice - we hope you are having a WONDERFUL time in Conn.!!!