It looks nothing like the movies.
They don't hold their neck and make a lot of noise.
It's easy to miss.

Today I was feeding the residents in the dementia unit when, it happened.
Sweet Marilyn was choking and I was the only one in the room.
Her saltwater blue eyes rolled in the back of her head and she leaned back in her wheelchair.
She wasn't breathing.

Panic mode set in and I sprinted down the hall looking for someone, anyone to help.
"Help! Help! Marilyn is choking!" I shouted, my adrenaline was really pumping now.
Sadly it was a ghost town - I couldn't find anyone.
I didn't want her to die.

This wasn't my job! I wasn't trained in "abdominal thrusts in a wheelchair," I thought to myself as I sprinted to back to the dining room. I was only gone for a few seconds but it seemed like forever.
Marilyn's lips were turning blue.

Without thinking I leaned her forward in her wheelchair and thrust the heel of my hand hard into her back. Over, and over again until she spontaneously spewed banana pudding all across the nearby residents. Then she threw up on me. I have never been so happy to see vomit, because she was breathing again. After a coughing fit, color came back to her cheeks and she was talking within minutes. The nurse staff and CNAs magically appeared and looked relieved that I was able to help her. I hope no one has to go through that kind of experience, but if you do, be prepared.

Signs of choking:
- Person is not able to talk
- The person isn't coughing
- Difficulty breathing
- Loss of consciousness

We took a drive along the Aspen Loop to see the fall leaves.
The air was crisp and clear.
Fall is definitely here.


mmmm my favorite.

There is a little known saying among our friends that once you get married, two things happen.

1. You'll get fat
2. You'll disappear (meaning you won't have any friends because you will only want to spend all your time making googly eyes at each other.

Well, we are living proof that no, we aren't fat, and, we haven't disappeared.

We've had a beautifully messy year.

1 totaled car
1 surgery
1 skin cancer scare
1 graduation
4 camping trips
15 new friends
30 trips to Winco
50 tickle fights

For our anniversary, we decided to go to Zion's National Park and hike the Narrows. Due to the fact that we were up to our waists in water, I decided not to bring my good camera. Still, we got a few shots. I highly recommend this place.

                 

Calvin has many fond memories of Camp Steiner. It was his first right of passage into adulthood - living on his own in the mountains at the age of 15. He was fully of nostalgia as we visited his old stomping grounds. Stories of teaching survival classes, canoeing in the lake, and sleeping in Adirondacks. It really is a special place, except for the mosquitoes; I could do without them. 
                   

St. George is a happy place for Calvin.
The desert is not like the tropics, but it is most definitely beautiful in its own way.
This also happens to be the last family vacation before Christian goes to Russia to serve an LDS mission.
We will miss him.













                 

Someone broke his leg and had to be carried out by a rescue team. I'm glad it wasn't anyone from our group.

At the time, it seemed like a good idea. We were going to go crawdad fishing, and enjoy a weekend of camping. However, two factors made it a little interesting.
There were no crawdads to fish. I also foolishly thought I could sleep on a riverbed without a sleeping pad. Bad idea.
In Hawaii it is ok, but when there is still snow on the ground it is a very bad idea. I have never been so cold in my life! Still, it was good.
It builds character, or something like that.