It's Muller Time

Well, we have been quiet for quite a few weeks. Call it busy or laziness, we just haven’t had time to get to the computer to chat about stuff happening in July. We spent the 4th with friends and family, lighting fireworks off that were probably illegal in most states. It was fun though. Shortly there after, Josh actually had two Summer camps to be at in the month of July, first was blogged about here, “Camp Rising Sun” and the second was the High School session at Ponderosa camp. We had just one short week between the two. It was really difficult on the family, well just mom and dad. The girls on the other hand kinda liked the idea of not having Bubba around. We were all really happy to have him back though. He had a wonderful time at both camps and it seems to us has matured almost over night. While he was gone, the girls soaked it all up, swimming, visits with family, Cliff’s [local amusement park] and much, much more. It has been a great July for us. We are contemplating one last trip to Denver before the Summer closes down. Nancy is not looking forward to end of Summer, but is wondering what the school year has in store. She recently took a day course with RCI [the company that she contracts for] that just made her love for the work she does increase ten fold. It is a great thing to not look at your job as work. Tim will be one year older at the end of the month and is not looking forward to that… Even though we have been quiet, it hasn’t been quiet around here.

First Summer road trip is in the books. We could not have asked for more! Denver is a short 7 hr road trip from Albuquerque.  Short is not what Sarah would call it. About every half mile Tim got a, “DAD! ARE WE THERE YET?” or “DAD, Is this Denver?”. To which the answer would come, “I’ll tell you when we are there.” It didn’t curb any of the questions. Aren’t family trips in the car great? Our family was on a mission to surprise Grandma Judy for her “29th” birthday, but like all surprises go, it didn’t go undetected. Nancy’s brother Brent was also headed to Denver with a few of the cousins for the big event. Grandma and Grandpa AND Cousins (unfortunately Blake and Aunt Maureen were absent), can anyone say AWESOME! We spent a few days in Denver before the party. What a great city! We visited some restaurants that we don’t have back in Albuquerque, and took in some sites downtown at the 16th Street Mall. This year around we also did something really, really fun. We went to a little town outside Denver called Golden, where they brew Coors Beer. What a fun adventure that was. Grandma’s party was a little wet from all the rain and hail that visited the city that day. Enter in Grandpa and Josh with all your rainy days solutions. They made an outside porch into an indoor porch with make shift walls and space heaters. Thanks to Grandpa’s planning, the party was a huge success. There were good friends and family with great stories about Grandma (all preserved in a memory book). Surprise or no surprise it was great to have family together again. Grandma Judy, may every year be as celebratory as your “29th” birthday! One of our friends in NM said, “that Judy is one spunky lady”. We would have to agree!

Wow! We knew that New Mexico weather was bad, but we didn’t know that it would be this bad and this bad for so long. The winds have been around 40 to 50 mph, with some heat then some cold along with those winds. Makes for an interesting morning on trying to figure out what your gonna wear for the day. The only thing that we have is that the Summer break for us is just around the bend. It can’t come fast enough though. We can’t get ahead of ourselves, because we still have so much to do for the remaining School days. For Nancy, this is by far her busiest time of the year. She has so many Public School kids that need their [AWESOME!] OT to bring their year to a close. This requires a great deal of paperwork, more than usual. It’s the time of the year that Nancy doesn’t like what she does for a living and those that know her, know that she LOVES what she does. Josh is graduating from 8th grade this year, so we are fighting that “Cruise Control” mode. He is really excited to say the least. All the 8th grade kids have decided to dress up for the graduation. Josh and Dad get to rent his very first tuxedo. Blue vest and blue tie, really sweet looking. Also matches the School colors. Ashlea and Sarah just want to know when is the first time that they get to jump into a pool. Uncle Ed is going to get us a room at the Casino down the way, so it feels like we are on a vacation. Again, Summer can’t come fast enough! Warm weather, loving family and pool side. It sounds like a good Summer. Come on SUMMER! HURRY!

Unlike years past, where about this time we are usually finished biting our nails and are looking for flights and hotels [for 5] to Washington, D.C..we are now twiddling our thumbs, thinking what should we do with our time? Although it will be a big savings to our pocketbook, it has taken a big pep out of our step. Josh has dealt with defeat in a very Godly manner. He sent e mails to the gentlemen who helped him with his interviews and they shared these kind words with him:
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Dear Josh,

I am so sorry that you did not make it to the national competition. Your website is so much improved and certainly more than “eye candy.” Yes, it was a broad and difficult topic to cover in 1200 words, but I think that you did an excellent job. I especially liked the way that you used your interviews not only to create connective tissue, but also to make the case for the impact that maps have had and continue to have. I honestly think that judges had little understanding of cartography; they just didn’t get it.

I am proud of what you produced and you should be too. I am happy that I could play a small part in its creation. Keep up the good work, and I hope that you do not lose your interest in maps.

Sincerely,

Dennis Reinhartz
Emeritus Professor of History
The University of Texas at Arlington

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Joshua – thanks for the note. I’m so sorry you weren’t able to advance to the Nationals. Indeed, cartography is a complex topic, and what you have done is worthy of pride. I’m pleased to have been able to help you, but disappointed that I couldn’t help you discover the formula to distill all of that complexity into 1199 words!

My best wishes to you in your bright future… Hopefully in the fields of cartography and geography. I’d be honored to continue to guide you towards that goal.

Alan
President of the Cartography and Geographic Information Society
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His kind teacher had this to say:
Dear Josh,
I’m so proud of you and the young man of God you are. You know how to shine in victory and in defeat. God loves that. I don’t understand the judges’ decision, but I trust in God, as I know you do. Not going to Nationals this year in no way lessens the “impact” you’ve had on our NHD program at ACS, and the “change” you have helped bring about in the website category as you have been involved from the first year of inclusion as a project category. You are admired and respected for your work ethic, your character, and your leadership. I will forever refer to you as my first student who went to Nationals in the website category (and in 6th grade, no less). Josh, I am extremely and totally proud of you. May God reveal to you what He wants you to see because of this experience. May you know His peace.
Much love and blessings,
Mrs. McKenzie
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With all that said, God has us right where we are supposed to be, doing what we are supposed to do. We are very proud of Josh and his accomplishments. This by far was his best site ever. Who knows…maybe next year…It’s Ashlea’s turn.

What would the Muller household be without a little stress and excitement? I think we wouldn’t know what to do. On Monday, Tim and I went to the ER as there was something seriously and neurologically wrong with T’s back. He was losing motor and feeling to his left leg and even control of his bladder. He got an MRI but the Dr. said there was nothing remarkable about the film that couldn’t be taken care of at the clinic. The ER doctor I think was still concerned about Tims neurological symptoms and asked us if we wanted a second opinion. Thankfully my future sister in law works for the Neurology clinic at the University of New Mexico hospital and recommended one of the Dr.’s she works with. The ER doctor spoke with her that night and she said to send him over to UNMH. The ER doctor agreed and told us he would start the process for the transfer. Well I think it was a problem politically since the ER we were at was not affiliated with the University Hospital so the process stalled. We sat in the ER with Tim on a hospital gurney for 25 hours. Tim had to get his back doctor involved to get him transferred. After telling us that “he was not high priority”, they finally had him transferred by ambulance to the University Hospital. The neurosurgeon met him at the ER, and before I even got to the new hospital, she had him prepped and IN SURGERY. She told my brother in law that “she hoped that she got in there in time to not have permanent nerve damage”. She said the disc fragment that she pulled from his spine was a “10″ if she was to rate it 1 to 10. She is pleased with how things are progressing and it looks like there will be minimal residual weakness (if any) of the nerves that were being crushed. We are so thankful for the doctors at UNMH. We are SO thankful for Beth for pulling strings for the best surgeons to work on Tim (as they were not on duty when he arrived). They both stayed after their shift to perform the surgery. PRAISE GOD! He said it is like night and day on how he is feeling. Posturally he is standing and walking so well compared to a few days ago. The pain is now more surgically related vs a pain related to nerve impingement. In a couple of hours, we will be discharged home to recouperate!!! All’s well that ends well.