Rugby, My newest adventure!! (By, Jason)

On the 27 of October 2007 my small amount of Rugby preparation culminated with my first rugby match. I started practicing and learning the game a little over a month ago. The reason why? My 15 year old didn't want to play football so I suggested that he come up to Utah State University and see if they would let him practice with them.
After watching him practice for a few weeks I decided to strap on the boots and give the sport a whorl. My first practice I pushed my body so hard that I almost lost my lunch and breakfast, it was the hardest I had pushed my body up to that point; and I am in relatively good shape for 38.
I wouldn’t say that I was nervous, I was extremely apprehensive for the unknown. I have played hard in practice but the game was going to much harder with harder hits, faster runs, and experience on the other side of the ball. USU played a Salt Lake City club team “Haggis”, a very experienced team with several members of world cup and international players.
About 20 minutes into the game I got the call to come in and play Prop, replacing a injured player. With in the first five minutes I had my first rugby injury, a ¾ inch cash just above the ear lobe and running horizontal. Not a big deal until the referee notices it about 10 minutes later and sent me out to be patched up. The trainer put on a few steri-strips on it and I went in again midway through the second half until the bandages started to fall off about 10 minutes later. I was taken out of the game and watched USU play a well played game in a loosing effort 10-20.
I had a great time despite my aches and pains I am glad that I took up the sport. I will play as long as my body will allow me too.
follow the link below to view some great rugby hits.
http://www.break.com/index/rugbyhits.html

An Update for Jenni

Hey,
I thought I would let you know that I am back from my detox. Things went far better than I ever could have expected! I was in the hospital for six days, but I was very fortunate that my doctor did not feel that I needed an additional inpatient rehab program. I realize that I have a number of things I need to do for myself for my own rehabilitation but I am so grateful to be given a second chance. It is very hard to talk about without completely falling to tears but I know God loves me! I never dreamed that I could feel this well again. I am ashamed that I have wasted the last two and a half years on self medication, sinking further and further. I don't want to forget where I was because I never want to go down that road again, but I am so grateful that so many people loved me. I had no idea that the medications could actually have been causing so many of my problems, but they were. I feel as if I have truely been given a second chance. I do not have the pain, numbness or tingling down the left arm any more. I have still some minimal headaches, but they say the withdrawal will continue probably for another five days or so, every day is better than the last though. I'm sorry if I don't call and talk, I am still very emotional and want very much to move forward. I have so much to catch up with and so many people to thank, but I can't express thanks without tears.
Thank You!! Jenni

Entry for October 01, 2007

As you know Jenni has been on pain medications for 4+ years now. Over the last two years she has been taking opioid pain killers, oxycodone and oxycontin, as we have searched for an answer to here medical problems the dosages have increased. About three weeks ago her pain doctor was going to perform a procedure that that would have burned the nerves in a few different areas of the neck. During his pre-surgical exam he notices that her pupils were two different sizes, he was afraid that she had pressure on her optic nerve possibley caused by a tumor; I'm not thrilled at the way he told her that. He wanted her to have an MRI done and have it checked by a neurologist, there was no evidence of said tumor. However, the neurologist said that she had already had all the testing done that he would have recommended and proceeded to tell her that in his opinion she was having rebound headaches from the massive amount of drugs she was taking. His suggestion was that she seek help in eliminating the use of the drugs before he or any other neurologist could help her. Over the past few weeks she has been slowly reducing the amount of meds she was taking and waiting for a bed to come available at the UofU med center, on saturday she was ready to get help and called LDS hospital and was able to get into their detox center. I took her Saturday afternoon and she was admitted that night. As of today I don't have much information to give on her diagnosis, and how long she will be in the hospital. The UofU told her that normal patients would take 7 days but with the amount of meds she was taking it would be longer, LDS hasn't told us yet how long they think she will be in their care. she may be transferred to the U after her detox to receive additional care. As of last night she was eagerly optimistic but in a great deal of pain. Please keep her in your prayers!!! The boy's and I will be fine, she is the one who needs your strength at this time. I will keep all of you posted as we work our way through this trial.

Entry for July 17, 2007

Hey y'all,
We left for Jenni's family reunion in Kentucky today. We left very early this morning; 0420 in the morning, driving for 12 hours. We stopped in Kearney, Nebraska and visited the Great Platt River Road Archway Monument, then went to dinner at a small Mex restaurant and are staying at a Holiday Inn Express tonight. Tomorrow we will drive to Missouri, and possibly visit the Archway.

Ready for spring

There has been a lot going on sense our last blog. We are all doing well with life.
Jason is still teaching at assignment seems to be going OK for him he is ready to move on to his next assignment. His old artillery unit has received there warning order for Iraq, Jenni is grateful he is not there anymore. Jason spent a lot of time with the boys this winter skiing, and picked up snowboarding as well; he all ready has hit a double black diamond run at the Canyons.
Jenni is amazing, she is going to school, doing great, and taking care of the house. She is always there for the boys and does everything she can to make there lives happy. Unfortunately she is still struggling with her neck and head injuries. In February she had a procedure that burnt a few of her nerves in the neck; while that helped with some of the pain there were other issues that arose. She is still trying to work with her doctors and find out what she can do. Unfortunately she had to quit her job because of her injuries; this will cause some short term stress, but will be better in the long run.
Ken is doing excellent in school, carrying a 4.0 again this last trimester. He is on the track team running the 100m dash; he is hoping that it will prepare him for football next fall. He also just competed in a singing competition at the high school and did very well. Ken's boarding skills have developed nicely this winter; he is carving down black diamond with Dad and was suckered into a double black which he braved very well. He is still keeping in contact with Angie, his girlfriend in Virginia, and will go to EFY (Especially for Youth) in June out in Virginia; spending a bit of time with her there. He will then spend a few weeks with his Chalmers grandparents until our family reunion in July.
Rick is also doing extremely well in school. He also received a 4.0 this last trimester. He and Ken were in a competition to see who could get the best grades, the prize was a ski trip with Dad to a premiere resort; Dads going broke. Rick has quite a few friends in our new neighborhood and enjoys spending time with them. Dad has got him into fashion, so he is very aware of how he dresses, his friends give him a hard time, but he knows what lookin good is about. Rick has done very well this winter with his snowboarding skills, he started to carve well and hit few black diamonds with Dad this winter.
Brickley has been a source for Grandma Shawna to laugh about; he has defiantly turned into a mini Jason. He is such a sweet boy, but when he get ornery look out. He is doing so well in 1st grade, he gets wonderful grades and get along with other kids most of the time. He gets a little frustrated because he fells that he is held back by other kids in the class, so he gets board. Next year we will try to put him in a charter school so he can be pushed more. He has such a great time with his friends in the neighborhood, all he wants to do after school is play with his buddies. He started to learn how to snowboard this year and has enjoyed adding that to his skiing skills.
We hope you are all doing well, we will try to be better about updating this page.
Jason, Jenni, Ken, Rick, and Brickley

Entry for January 16, 2007

This past weekend saw all of us goining in different directions. Ken and Jason left friday for a varsity scout campout up cub river canyon, in southern Idaho. They cross country skied (never done it before) in about four miles with back packs on and stayed in a scout camp lodge for the night. nether of them enjoyed the whole XC skinig thing at all, Jason had a stress fracture or realy bad sprain on his right foot that kept him up all night, and Ken was just tired. all and all it was an ok trip. As for Rick and Brickley they went skiing with some friends on friday while mom went to school, and then they all went out to dinner friday night. On saturday we all reunited Ken and Jason were pretty hammered from their trip so they spent the day relaxing and a few hours at the ER having Jason's foot looked at. Sunday we went and visited Grandma Jen(Bangerter), she had a sroke last tuesday (her 85th birthday), at University Hospital in SLC. This one has really effected her speach, which some of you are greatful, but it is coming around ; She sould be back to cussin us all out soon. Other than this stuff we are all doing great. Talk to ya later.