Spinal Cord Nerve Stimulator

Can you see the cord wrapped in a circle and taped to my back? Alittle lower is where they inserted the wires.

I got the call on Dec. 30th, that Dr. Garg's office finally got approval for me to try the Spinal Cord Stimulator. Our goal was to get it done this year, as our out of pocket has been met and this procedure would be paid 100%. I felt like the governor had called to stay my execution.

I went in at 2:30 p.m. on New Year's Eve day. Dr. Garg put the probes into my back. I was on the table a while as he fine tuned their positions. I wasn't out but was slightly sedated. I got very little sleep the night before and that helped to make me tired and more sedated. It hurt a bit.

I also broke out again with hives. We were wondering if the hives were from the tape on my back. I have gotten a rash with blisters from surgical tape. Wherever the tape was, was where I itched most. But the rash has spread to other areas of my bod. Which has made the whole process difficult to relax enough to be able to tell if the probe is working. It really tingles my legs, which it's meant to do. But my lower back still hurt a little.

Today, I go in to have it out and discuss putting the real one in surgically. I pray it stops my itching. These sleepless nights are getting to me. May the force be with me.

Happy Birthday Deniece

Kelly emailed me today and said he and some family members were going to the temple on your birthday tomorrow. I wish I could be there as I know you will be. I love you and cherish our friendship. You blessed so many lives while on this earth and you will continue to bless lives in the Spirit World.

What would it feel like to lose a child?

I hope I never have to find out. A dear friend and my favorite P.A. (my doctor), Patty Jones, lost her oldest daughter today of a brain tumor. She has had it for many years, and they have done all that they could to fight it. Patty has another daughter with a brain tumor, she has served a mission. Patty has battled breast cancer for the past few years. I've seen her with and without hair. I've seen her hair dark brown and now short and gray. She knows my deepest, darkest secrets and always greets me with a smile and much hope for the tomorrows. I love Patty. My heartaches for their loss of their wonderful daughter Carrie.

Little Wonders sung by Rob Thomas

"Let it go, let it roll right off your shoulder. Don't ya know, the hardest part is over-let it in, let your clarity define you in the the end, we will only just remember how it feels!

All life's a maze, in these small hours, these little wonders, these twists and turns of fate. Time falls away but these small hours, these small hours still remain.

Let it slide, let your troubles fall behind you, let it shine till you feel it all around you. And I don't mind if it's me you need to turn to. We'll get by. It's the HEART that really matters in the end.

All life's a maze, in these small hours, these little wonders, these twists and turns of fate. Time falls way but these small hours, these small hours still remain. All of my regrets will wash away somehow. But I can not forget the way I feel right now, in these small hours, these little wonders, these twists and turns of fate and these twists and turns of fate."


JAN'S THOUGHTS: DO YOU EVER THINK ABOUT THE LITTLE WONDERS, AND THE TWISTS AND TURNS OF FATE. . . LED BY A LOVING AND CARING FATHER IN HEAVEN? I OFTEN TAKE FOR GRANTED ALL THAT HE HAS GENEROUSLY GIVEN ME AND I TEND TO FEEL SORRY FOR MYSELF. HOPEFULLY NO MORE FOR A SEASON. I KNOW I CAN'T GO FOREVER WITHOUT COMPLAINING AND PITYING MYSELF.

I MUST LET MY TROUBLES SLIDE AND FALL BEHIND ME AND LET MY LIFE SHINE ALL AROUND ME AND TO OTHERS. ALL MY REGRETS AND FAULTS WILL BE WASHED AWAY THROUGH MY FRIEND AND SAVIOR. THERE IS HOPE ALL AROUND US, IN THOSE SMALL HOURS, THOSE LITTLE WONDERS AND TWISTS AND TURNS OF FATE.

I AM BLESSED!

Happy Birthday Mom

Today, I am only 3 years younger than when my mom passed away!

Happy 78th Birthday, which you are celebrating in the spirit world. You died 22 years ago (Nov. 17, 86), when I was 28, and had a tiny infant, Danton.

Mom, you are my ROCK. Thank you for teaching me how to pray with real FAITH. I learned what faith really meant as I watched you pray often and in behalf of your children.

Remember your Sucret can (sore throat lozenges), filled with 20 dollar bills? You kept that little stash for when your children needed or didn't need money. You earned the money at your little part-time job working for Hallmark Cards on the base at Hillfield.

I can't begin to count all the sacks of food you sent home with me while I lived in Logan. I'll always cherish your words of wisdom, your love of the gospel, your thrifty and unassuming ways, your generosity for others, your willingness to serve, and the list goes on and on.

You were my greatest admirer. A day never went by without an uplifting or positive word directed towards me. Growing up, I had low self-esteem, and I know it was your mission to build me up to my fullest potential. You knew what I could become.

I loved our long walks, our talks by your bedside. Our shared love of ice cream and most importantly peanut butter and cheese. The staples of life.

I'm sorry you were taken prematurely from this world. You really must have been needed in the spirit world. I needed you too, and so did your family but we will sacrifice our time on earth with you so you can serve the Lord and others. I bet you are one of the very best missionaries or Relief Society Presidents in a newly converted ward. You were always great at making others feel wanted and needed. Like the summers, while I was in high school, I didn't get a job so I could babysit Miss while you did your church calling as RS President. You were always making something or visiting someone. P.S. AND I loved not having to work and being able to stay home watching after Missy. She is so dear to me.

I look so forward to seeing you again. Come see me in the night or when I'm in trouble. I long to feel your influence in my life. I love you Mom.

Renew Our Covenants

I am one proud mother. Today, Ethan blessed the sacrament for his first time. His voice was calm, his words exact. I listened more intently than ever before. The words were wonderful. What a blessing in our lives, to have the opportunity to partake of the sacrament.

Elder Russell M Nelson said, "The sacramental prayers have been revealed by the Lord. Sacramental prayers are to be offered understandably because he who prays is giving voice to covenants that others are making."

I wonder how many young men realize what a privilege it is to give voice to the sacramental covenants. Do they realize they are symbolically praying over the sacred body of our Savior. I would give anything if my sons were able to come to that complete understanding of the great honor it is to hold the priesthood and to bless and pass the sacrament.

I so look forward to the day that I hear all of my sons offer those precious words.

All covered in hives and not a thing to wear that matches.

Yikes, this is crazy. I've got hives and not the kind that Beekeepers tend to, like an one-eighth of our ward member. Yup, we'll know where to go to barter for honey when time get sticky. . . pun intended. Better be thinking of something to barter with. I have goats, one little dog and five adorable puppies. Shupes and Evanes have cows, and Ashcrofts have fruit trees coming out their ying yang, and a garden to die for.. . . die as in their backs. Yeah live and eat or die and weep, those of you that can feel the pain of a premature deteriorating back, raise you hand high!

Wow, I just did a 360. . .back to the subject at hand, my hives. I has up at 5 a.m. taking an Aveeno bath to sooth the ravages of the ITCH. . . . I can think of a word that rhymes with itch but I will keep in locked up in my tiny little mind, and repent soon.

Any home remedies you'd love to share. I did go to Insta-care yesterday ( I didn't get to see Dr.Casey). I just couldn't stand it any longer, one week of the 50 year itch is more than long enough. The doc thinks it due to an allergic reaction to an antibiotic I was taking for a sinus infection. The story of my life. . . . . .anywho. They gave me a shot in my bingo (my rear
quarters) of cortisone (something I've had my fair share of these past few months.) A rough estimate would be around 17 in my back. My right side is doing much better, it's my left side that is not. I've had YEARS of back pain on my left side and I guess as I must grow older my discs are degenerating more QUICKLY. Lucky me. But I can still serve my family, my Heavenly Father and community. You can't stop me that easily but I'm afraid if I don't get something to work, I may have to stop for a time.


All you bloggers should feel relieved that the hives are on my torso, so no pics. Thanks for bearing with my whining.

Christmas Day afternoon

Christmas afternoon with the Preece exchanging gifts at our house.

Grandma made BBQ, potato salad, homemade buns, toss green salad and ice cream and chips. She spoils us!

Konnor is looking at one of the puppies in a stocking hat.

Cute little Baylee

Jason is putting together the potty that grandma gave Baylee

Best Friends

Taylor and Jess playing with the Crayola kit that Jess and Brady gave her.

From us. . .Ethan got one too.

Truck given to Konnor from Brady and Jess

Clothes for Taylor from grandpa and grandma Balls

The Ultimate Crayola Kit

Christmas Day Breakfast Feast

A snowy Christmas morning

Grandma's tree

The big breakfast spread

The Fried Eggs

The pile of homemade toast for dippin' in the hot cocoa.

Meal preparation, almost done. . .

Dan's favorite job of frying tons of pork meat

More loving going on.

PDA Brady and Jess

The look of a man that has just fried tons of bacon and sausage.

Good old boys cleaning up after our delicious breakfast. Grandma loves it when all her kids are helping in the kitchen. She doesn't have a dish washer. Her favorite saying,"Many hands make light work." Sound like something a grandma would say.

Team work

Christmas Eve Birthday Party

Around noon on Christmas Eve day, we were invited over to the Preeces for cake and ice cream for little Miss Baylee. She turned one, to her mom's dismay. Baylee really is a sweetheart, such a pleasant little thing. You hardly know she's around.

When she first began, she was so dainty and clean. But as time progressed, the more she got into the delicious taste of CHOCOLATE. A girl after my own heart.

Who do you think enjoyed opening the gifts more?

Everyone was there, Jason's parents and grandparents. Jason's two brothers, their wives and kids, Gina and her mom and Stephen, Gina's ex-husband.

I'm glad we all get along.

The Nativity -Warner style

Christmas Eve, we went down to my dad's and Nancy's for dinner, gift exchange and the reenactment of the Nativity. We had soup in bread bowls. I brought a Waldorf salad. Miss brought a salad, Tawnya brought soup, Teresa and JoDee brought delicious Christmas treats.

The Nativity- Warner style

The Cast:

Mary: Torie Fitzgerald.

Joseph: Dan Balls.

Christ: a doll.

Donkey: Russ Warner.

Angel: Allie Warner.

Shepards: Allen and Andrew Warner.

Wise men: Tena, Tawnie and Tavis Fitzgerald.

Narrator: Jan Balls.

Script: New Testament in Mathew

Perfect role for you Russ. . . a donkey or A _ _!

Just kidding my bro, you're a good sport

Missy and her family were there, Tawnya and Bob, JoDee and Curtis and girls and granddaughter. All of our kids except for Dana and gang. Russ and family were there too. It seemed small without everyone there. Nancy does a nice job and really tries hard to keep all of us together. She isn't feeling well but that didn't hold her back from having this party. She's been an amazingly wonderful step mom. She has been so good for my dad.

After things were wrapped up. We headed for home. Danton and Ethan were in Danton's Jeep. Brady and Jess were in their own car and of course, Dan and I were in our car.

We got to Grandma Balls around 10-ish. The kids went prepared to spend the night in her basement, except for Danton and Dan and I. We visited for several hours and then went to bed.

The next morning, Dan and I went over to the Christmas party. Danton was able to get up too. We opened gifts. Grandma spoiled us again this year. She spends so much money on us. Around 10 a.m., we started our fat laden breakfast. Dan fried the bacon and ham. Grandma fried the hash brown. I got the easy job, buttering the homemade toast. I brought my cocoa maker and had piping hot cups of hot chocolate with tons of marshmallows. Once the eggs were fried, we were ready to eat. I can only eat this way once a year. Not that I am a picture of health but anyway. . . .

Most of us took a little nap and then around 3 p.m., Dana and family came over to exchange gifts. Grandma had made BBQ, potato salad, a tossed salad, homemade hamburger buns, veggies and chips. So we had a late lunch all together, thanks to grandma. Grandma loves Christmas as we are all together. The kids love sleeping over on Christmas Eve. She has created some wonderful memories and makes such a fuss. We are blessed to have her in our lives. She's one of a kind, thoughtful, loving, generous, and sweet.

The Jason and Dana Preece Family

Jason holding Baylee (1), Taylor (7), Konnor (2) and Danalin
Good looking family

Hey NO PDA and NO kisses in public

Dan's daughter from a previous marriage. We're glad they are in our lives and we can make up for lost time.

Yes. Jason is Jared Preece's older brother

Sweet Sixteen, our baby, our boy!

December 23rd, 2008, Ethan turned ever-so-sweet sixteen. The sign says, "Clear the streets, Ethan is 16. Happy Birthday". Ranee Savage runs a little business, called Lawn Cardz. I hired her to do Dan's 50th and Dan hired her to do mine. She charges 40.00. She puts them out early in the morning, leaves a little bag of treats and picks them up after dark.




I wish (at the time)I would of had a better camera to take these pictures. They aren't very clear. . . but what can you expect from a camera phone. They're not bubbling over with pixels. There was just a bunch of happy things stuck in the snow.

Here my boy sits in my car waiting for me to take some pictures of the mess on the lawn. He really did like the attention. He got some disappointing news on the morning of his birthday. He was under the impression that he could just go in to the DMV, and someone there would take him on the road test. I happened to call and found out the bad news. They were booked for a week. I scheduled his test on 12-31-08. I thought he'd be a beast all day and mopey. . .but no, he was Ethan-as-usual.

Can you see him in the driver's seat. Since he got his permit many months ago, he has been my designated driver. When he takes a corner too fast, I yell at him. And when I turn incorrectly, he yells back. We have one of those relationships, that's called "comme ci, comme ca". Well, first you have to speak a bit of French so that you know what is actually being said! The correct phrase is "comme ci, comme ça" and is pronounced roughly, "kumm see, kumm sah". All it means is "Like this, like that". Wee wee, I speakish a bit of French, "Parles-tu français?"