Don't worry about the flood at our house, family.

Myrna wrote: We will be home Tuesday evening. We have scheduled the same folks who put in the water heater to come and look at what went wrong. They will be there early Wednesday a.m. We love you and all the offers of help. Dad thinks that maybe some sediment built up inside the water heater and blew into the valve blocking it. He wants the guys who installed the plumbing to come and look at it. He is afraid that if we start twisting and turning we may end up in a lot of hot water. :) Literally.

Todd wrote: What flood?

Kimberly wrote: It's fixed. The relief valve failed. Shawn replaced it. Just washing some towels, Toren snow shoveled for you.

Myrna wrote: Wow! Thanks for all the work. We owe you big time.

Kimberly wrote: Not us. Julie did all the clean up. Blessed she found out when she did. Could have been much, much worse.


Myrna wrote: Julie went to the house to mail a bill for dad so that we could pay it from here. Our water heater had malfunctioned and there was water in the basement. It had made it under the stairs and into the family room but she was able to turn off the water heater and lift the carpet so that it would dry.

We certainly appreciate the work. Thanks for replacing the valve, doing the clean-up and shoveling the walks. We are certainly thankful to all of you and are thankful for all of your help. I think Julie was inspired to go downstairs and check the basement. It could have really been a major flood. It was another one of those "tender mercies." I think we owe you, Shawn, the cost of the valve. As I recall, I sort of left the house in a mess as well (the bedroom and office). I had to do news and put away the rest of Christmas from around the house. There were a few other things that HAD to be done as well as the packing. So I apologize for the mess.

Thanks, Kimberly, for the news. I didn't realize that it was you who relayed the good news. I thought, at first, that it was Shawn. Now I know, from Julie, that you worked to make things nice for us. So thank you. I need to apologize. I didn't realize that you and Sorina had also been here and worked. You, Kimberly, helped move that heavy carpet in addition to the other help you provided. I am sorry that I did not know and I would have sent you all a thank-you note. I do love you.

Thanks also to AnnMarie for meeting Julie and working with her earlier.

Sympathy for Kirsten

Erin wrote: I was reading about Auntie Kirsten with my grandma Barbra so she could explain to me what all these words meant haha. We both agreed poor Aunty Kirsten. And we both hope that she will get better soon. Its a good thing you were there though so she had someone to help her. Tell her i said hi and that i am terribly sorry she had to go through all of that. Its a good thing though too that they found out what it was instead if her going through that another few times. Anyways i hope you guys are still having fun with all of this excitement. Must be lots of exersize. Love you lots. 
Love
Your loving grandaughter Erin


Myrna wrote: You should be getting a Valentine package from us. We mailed it from Colorado.
How are you? I hope that you are doing well at school.

Gordon wrote: You are all in our prayers.   Wow!
Love,
Gordon and Roberta


Cheryl Utley, Friday Evening Shift Coordinator, wrote: Myrna 
Got your message, all will be fine at the temple. We will just keep filling in for you. So sorry to hear about all your daughter's  problems.  Love Cheryl

Olena Blackham Hunt wrote: Give Kristen my love. She will be in my prayers. I have allergy to certain medication and know what she is going through. I'm alergic to morphine plus others. Enjoy your grandkids while you are with them.

Annette Morely wrote: Dear Myrna,
It sounds like you have had quite the time.  We miss you, but will get along fine for however long it takes.  Good luck to all of you and especially poor Kirsten.  Love, Annette

Joan wrote: Dear folks,
We are so very concerned about your daughter and her health situation.
We pray that everything will work out for her and you very soon.
Don't worry about what is going on at the Temple.  Sister Morley and I
are keeping up with everything.  We miss you, but the sisters have been
good to help.  Just take care of your daughter and don't worry.  
Much love, 
Sister Joan Meade

Ann wrote: WOW! When it rain it pours.
Hope Kirsten can get some relief soon.
We will keep you in our prayers
Love
Ann Carter

Eileen Lofthouse, Saturday Afternoon Shift Coordinator, wrote:  Oh my, Myrna!!!  What an experience.  I am so thankful that you are there to help her and the children and you need to stay as long as you are needed!!!  I'm glad that you are healing as well.  I'm sure you fall into bed exhausted every night but the Lord does give Grandma's and Grandpa's extra strength to do whatever we have to do.  

Keep me in touch and let me know how everything is going.  We'll have a substitute for you as long as we need too.  Prayers for Kirsten and you and Leonard, too.  

much love,
Eileen aka Sis. Lofthouse
Lyla wrote: Myrna, 
You stay right there with you daughter who needs you more than any of us!!  Of course we will miss you and I will get detailed notes for you knowing you won't be here. Have you put her name in the temple??  I am sure you have.  Keep me updated and please be safe!! 
Love You, 
Lyla


Russ Bnder wrote: Hello Dear Friends,
We have missed you for the last couple weeks.  We hope all has gone well for Kirsten. 
I read about the Republican Dinner this month.  Are you going?
Just wondering about you.  If I remember right, you will be home sometime this week, right?
Love you,
Colleen and Russ

Deborah Woodbrey wrote: I am glad that you are alright, I was worrying about you the last couple weeks not seeing you at all. I hope your daughter gets better soon. Sounds like a scary thing to go through. Be safe in your travels. We are getting lots of snow right now and should be going through the next couple days.


EllaDean wrote: I am so sorry to hear about your daughter.  That is terrible that with so much pain , especially in her mouth, that she can,t take any antibiotics.  
My granddaughters husband is a Pediatrics surgeon at Memorial hospital, in Denver.
Hope and pray all wil  go well with her.


Russ Bender wrote: Hi Dear Friends,

We've been concerned all week about Kirsten.  How is she doing? Since we have not heard from you, we have been more than concerned.Let us know. We love you guys and your family.
Russ and Colleen

Copycat Thin Mints Recipe

Do you love those iconic Thin Mint cookies? Look no further than this recipe to make your own at home. These have too much sugar for the  Type 2 Diabetics like Myrna. If you can eat sugar, enjoy.

Ingredients
1 1/4 C. all-purpose flour 

1 C. sugar

1/2 C. cocoa powder

1/4 tsp. salt

1/4 tsp. baking soda

3/4 C. butter or vegan margarine
3 Tbsp. milk
1 tsp. pure vanilla extract
1/2 tsp. pure peppermint extract
Chocolate Coating
4 C. semisweet chocolate chips

2 Tbsp. butter or vegan margarine 

1/2 tsp. peppermint extract
Directions
Use a food processor to blend dry ingredients, by pulsing. Add margarine, milk, vanilla, and mint extract and pulse until well combined. Scrape out dough, knead until all the ingredients are well incorporated, and chill in refrigerator for 1 to 2 hours, till mixture is firm.

Preheat the oven to 350° and line two large baking sheets with parchment paper. When dough is ready, roll balls about as big as a heaping teaspoon, and press them, one by one, onto the baking trays, leaving about 3 inches of space around each. Flatten each to about a quarter inch thick and bake for 12-15 minutes. Roll a heaping teaspoon of cookie dough into a ball and place onto prepared baking sheets, leaving about 3 inches in between each ball. Cool on rack completely.

Chocolate coating: Melt chocolate chips and margarine until smooth using a double boiler or microwave. Stir in the mint extract. Dip cooled cookies into thechocolate using your fingers or a fork. Arrange cookies plates lined with parchment paper and refrigerate until coating sets. 

Where We Are

We are here in Colorado Springs for the second week. We will need to be here for week three. Kirsten, our youngest daughter, had surgery on her jaw and had it broken in four places so that her joints would work as they should. She has been in constant pain with them and the spacers the orthodontist had her wearing for the last four years did not work. The surgery was extremely painful and I am certain that it would have killed me. (Especially since I cannot take most pain relievers.) She had the surgery on Wednesday, and then came home to pain and drugs. That was when the trouble started. She had two ambulance rides in two days. Monday, either the oxycodone, hydrocodone, or Keflex caused her to have a severe allergic reaction. She swelled, got hives and had great difficulty breathing. At the ER, they were unable to determine what caused the problem for certain. Although the Dr. there thought that it was most likely that it was both the narcotics. They took her off of everything at the hospital, except for Tylenol. (I do not have time to look any of this spelling up.) They kept her overnight and, in the morning, they put her on a morphine-type drug and sent her home at noon. We got back about 1 p.m. but had to go to Walgreens and get the new drugs. Guess what? She took the first dose and started to swell again. She was not as bad the second time and did not need to stay the night even though her breathing was labored. It is difficult when your tongue and your breathing passage swells shut and your jaw is wired closed. The medics were afraid that they would have to do a tracheostomy but they were able to get her to respond with oxygen and epinephrine.

The next day, on a Wednesday, one week after the surgery, we were headed to the surgeon, who is located in Denver, also where the surgery was done, when she started to swell again. We ended up back at the ER at Memorial in the Colorado Springs area where they treated her and sent us on to the surgeon. It took the three times before they finally figured out which medication was making her stop breathing. Apparently she cannot take any narcotics. It is a good thing that she never took up drugs. ;) They also had to take away the steriods which were supposed to keep her from swelling because they gave her panic attacks. They did not restart the antibiotics either. At any rate, she is weak and worn-out and cannot drive. We are needed for one more week to assist her and take care of her five children under the age of 12 (one is 16-months).

I am certainly happy that I never had the same surgery. At one point, one orthodontist said it might be a good thing to do to cure my TMJ but I found a different specalist who just made all my teeth fit together. The orthodontist who took over Dr. Kitchen's practice, who was practicing in Provo, after he died in the airplane accident was the one who told us that Kirsten did not need braces and that her mouth looked just great. HAH! Can I sue at this late date. I know, I know, he did the best he could at the time. She was just 12 at the time but he continued to say that her teeth were lining up well. Her jaw hinges were so deteriorated from the constant misalignment that they had to be replaced with artificial ones. I am too old for all of this fear of dying. Just be healthy, strong and do NOT have surgery or accidents. :)

My tooth was removed, the bone graft done, and, next October, I will get an implant. I have a new cap on the tooth that was decaying under the old cap. I am in good shape. Leonard also has a new cap and the same molar that I had removed had to be extracted on him. We are twins in that we are both missing the rear lower molar. He will also need an implant but that will not be until Fall for either of us. I hope Kirsten soon will be. I think she is very brave and has had so much pain, in addition to the allergies. Hopefully we can schedule that for our break from the temple.
© 201

From Erin

Dear Grandma,
            I am so sorry I am now just getting back to you. I haven't checked my email in a couple of years. When I first opened it today I saw that I had about 560 unread messages. I have seen so many messages and read all that you have sent me and with each one I appreciate more. All of the things you have sent me are fantastic. Thank you so much. Even though I just saw you recently I would still like to know how both of you are. What's new? How are you? Love you lots and thank you again very much.
  Love,
  Your granddaughter Erin

We will stay in Colorado for a short while longer.

This will let you all know that we are staying in Colorado for a few more days. Kirsten really could use our help just a while longer.

memberservices@travelocity.com 
Sent: Tue 2/05/13 10:48 PM

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- You will need to have the ticket number(s) listed in the passenger information section below when you are ready to use any remaining ticket value toward a new reservation. Please call us at 888-872-8356 to book your next trip.

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We're sorry you had to cancel this reservation, but we look forward to helping you plan your next trip!


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Passenger Name: LEONARD TRAUNTVEIN

Passenger Name: MYRNA TRAUNTVEIN

A Bevy of Old Fashioned Valentines

To Our Beloved Missionary Grandsons

Gramps and I read your letters with great interest. We are thankful that Heavenly Father blesses you with many tender mercies and that he is helping you both to be successful and to be happy in your work. We pray daily, and usually, more often than once a day, that you will be blessed. You are in our thoughts continually and we are proud of you young men who are serving our Father in Heaven and our Savior.

We are here in Colorado Springs for the second week. Kirsten had surgery on her jaw and had it broken in four places so that her joints would work as they should. She has been in constant pain with them and the spacers the orthodontist had her wearing for the last four years did not work. The surgery was extremely painful and I am certain that it would have killed me. (Especially since I cannot take many pain relievers.) She had the surgery on Wednesday, and then came home to pain and drugs. That was when the trouble started. She had two ambulance rides in two days. Monday, either the oxycodone, hydrocodone, or Keflex caused her to have a severe allergic reaction. She swelled, got hives and had great difficulty breathing. At the ER, they were unable to determine what caused the problem for certain. Although the Dr. there thought that it was most likely that it was both the narcotics. They took her off of everything at the hospital, except for Tylenol. (I do not have time to look any of this spelling up.) They kept her overnight and, in the morning, they put her on a morphine-type drug and sent her home at noon. We got back about 1 p.m. but had to go to Walgreens and get the new drugs. Guess what? She took the first dose and started to swell again. She was not as bad the second time and did not need to stay the night. The next day, on a Wednesday, one week after the surgery, we were headed to the surgeon when she started to swell again. We ended up back at the ER where they treated her and sent us on to the surgeon. It took the three times before they finally figured out which medication was making her stop breathing. Apparently she cannot take any narcotics. It is a good thing that she never took up drugs. ;) They also had to take away the steriods which were supposed to keep her from swelling because they gave her panic attacks.

I am certainly happy that I never had the same surgery. At one point, one orthodontist said it might be a good thing to do to cure my TMJ but I found a different specalist who just made all my teeth fit together. The orthodontist who took over Dr. Kitchen's practice after he died in the airplane accident was the one who told us that Kirsten did not need braces and that her mouth looked just great. HAH! Can I sue at this late date. I know, I know, he did the best he could at the time. She was just 12 or 13. I am too old for all of this fear of dying. Could you guys all knock it off, OK? Just be healthy, strong and do NOT have surgery or accidents. :)

My tooth was removed, the bone graft done, and, in six months, I will get an implant. I have a new cap on the tooth that was decaying under the old cap. I am in good shape. I hope Kirsten soon will be. I think she is very brave and has had so much pain, in addition to the allergies.

Well, Gramps and I wanted you both to know that you were loved and remembered. Take care, keep safe, and remember, no accidents or surgeries. I am too old for the trauma.

Lots of love, Grammy and Gramps

The ER and Kirsten

She ended up in the ER again today. It was just a mild reaction today. We took her in the car so she didn't alarm all of the neighbors. (They come running each time that something happens. Two of the older ladies really love her.) We were actually headed toward Denver and her surgeon when she started getting short of breath and her lips and tongue started to swell again. We took a trip to the ER, they treated her, and we went on to Denver. The doctor in ER seemed to think that she was so sensitive because of all the meds she had been taking and because of the adverse reactions she had had that she was just sort of cycling through the junk working out of her system. Pray that is the end of all her misery though she is still in great pain. Love you all!

Kirsten wrote: Thanks for resending.  And for walking me through all this!  Love you!

Myrna wrote: I love you also, lots! That doesn't mean, however, that you can take any more ambulance rides for a very long time.

Melanie wrote: By the way...I don't remember the orthodontist that took over the Kitchen's practice...but I didn't like him as much. The Kitchens were fabulous!

Melanie about allergic reactions

Melanie wrote: I have allergic reactions to any morphine medications...usually swelling, vomiting, and a drop in blood pressure. And violently allergic to demerol. Also, I can't take cephlasporin...another allergy. Poor thing. I wondered why she wasn't responding to the text.

Ben has the same jaw issues, but our surgeon told us the surgery down sides outweighed the benefits, so we elected not to do the surgery four years ago.

I hope I don't regret that decision in the future.
Mel