Hurricane Harvey

I will say that being in the "dirty side of a hurricane" as they say, was not the least exciting thing I have done. My goodness. The airport was closed on Friday but opened Saturday morning so I flew in, then they closed it again that afternoon. I just made it, which myself and parents did not think was a wise thing. However, Eva said that I would be safe, and that it would be easier to get me home on Saturday morning than it would in the aftermath. I will say that I am so very grateful that we did stay dry. It was bizarre not being able to get out of the neighborhood, and hearing the coast guard fly overhead day and night to air flight those just one block away that had water up to the second floor and some to the attic. So crazy. Then we were able to make lunches to pass out, organize laundry etc.
We have driven around and taken pics of flooding/devastation. I tried to take pics of when it was dry versus wet in some cases, as much as I could.

I took pics everyday for mom and dad to let them see that we were wet but safe.  

Neighbors tree down 

We just have to lift the bike over the fallen trees, but wet or not Kingwoodites carry on

 

Again, carry on...umbrella and boots with shorts because of the heat 

Coast Guard is flying overhead day and night. They were air lifting stranded people out 2 blocks to the east and 4 blocks south 

Another trooper 

Roads blocked off everywhere. Woodland Hills that is one block east of us was blocked off because there was water just beyond 

 

You can see the access road is under water, and the freeway signs ahead  

 

There are boats and airboats everywhere. They call them the Cajun Navy here. They just come out in droves to help rescue people 

You can see where the freeway is supposed to be here.  

The roads are covered, and it is almost up to the overpass. On the right about half way you can see the top of a camper that was parked on the access road

This is the same camper closer to the left. The yellow building is a 2 story antique store, came within a couple of feet of the roof before the water started to recede  

Crazy to me that the water is up to the bottom of freeway signs  

Michael is in the red sweatshirt and shorts, standing on the far side of our friend Julie's house. Water is up to her door jam (along the bottom) You can see the stop sign at the end of the street, water is touching the underside of the sign 

Another house, another down tree, this one is two streets away. Kimberly and fam and Ash saw this house, it is as you turn off of Kingwood Drive turning onto Big Springs to go to Rolling Meadows 

Another view of the same house/tree

Early Childhood and Family Background Part 2

What was your parents' religious background? How was religion observed in your home?

My mom was Lutheran. I was baptized into the Lutheran church when I was little. And I went to the Crescent Ave. Christian School which was held where our Lutheran chapel was. I have this fuzzy sort of memory of me being woken up by mom and dad and I had thrown up in bed on a Saturday night, and dad saying I was ok I could still ride the church bus ... no idea whatsoever if it is correct or not. But I do not remember going to church as a family and sitting in the pew for anything other than kindergarten graduation.

What were your parents' political beliefs? Were they involved in any political organizations?

I believe my parents are Democrats, or at least dad Dave was until Obama (whom I believe he voted for) and then said he wanted Trump but if he actually did vote that way I do not know. But Oregon is a very democratic state. It was not really talked about, and they had no involvement other than voting as far as I knew.

What other relatives did you have contact with growing up?

I saw grandma Larson a couple of times, but mostly mom flew back there alone. I am guessing school and finances kept me home. I went to Minnesota with mom for the first time with Christina when she was just a few months old.

Do you remember any of the classic stories? Jokes? Songs?

I really do not remember a lot about childhood, and definitely nothing classic. I assume this is more of a family section. I remember dad put in a tether-ball in the back yard for me, I remember we had an above ground pool, I remember we had a huge tortoise, we had a cat named Sam, I was friends with twins - Donna and Diana Humphreys and Marlene Isham was my best friend from school and her parents and my parents were friends so we hung out a lot, I remember I had a friend - Lori - and she was rich. She had all of the toys I wanted but didn't know they existed until her, huge kitchen stuff, dishes etc. and they had a built in pool, I do remember lying and telling her that I had a built in pool too, which worked until she came to my house for a bday party OOPS!! I actually went so far as to tell her we filled it in and got the above ground, covered it!! I am sure she believed me lol. Her last name was Walker, and I also worked at Apex with a Lori Walker who is now in TX. I remember I was riding my bike somewhere and as I went out of the driveway mom said goodbye so I turned to wave and ran into the back of a parked car - smoothly of course, like, I meant to do that!

What do you remember about your grandparents?

I do not remember a lot about grandpa Jesse, except I loved him immediately. He wore a brown stetson and walked with a cane by the time I met him. I would sit with him while he had his dialysis treatments, only went to the hospital once and there was a little boy screaming when he had to pee, so sad, but they never let me see grandpa after that. They wanted me to remember him how he was, but I do not remember much so I was upset. He did give me a pet rock, with a basket bed and he put a bandage on the rock so it would be like him. Grandma did not seem to like me, and I remember mom called her the B word one time and told her to leave me alone. Grandma was very grumpy and sad after grandpa died, which was the year we moved up there so I never really knew a happy Grandma Peyton. I was in her wedding to Cliff. They just stood in his living room so we did not do anything but I was there, and she was a tad nicer, but I think losing grandpa broke her heart and she never got it fixed again. Like I said, I only saw grandma Larson a couple of times, so I do not really have any memories of her either, and I think grandpa was gone and she was married to Ben Larson by then. I  have pics of Larry's parents holding me but I do not have any memories. Larry's brother Bob and his wife Nona said that Vicki talked about me all of the time, really wanted to meet me. I am sad that she was alive when dad Larry and I met but he did not tell her, and threatened Bob and Nona with never talking to them again if they told. Not sure why. I asked him if I could do Vicki's temple work and he said to do what I wanted when he was gone but he wanted to let sleeping dogs lie and could not understand why I wanted to do anything.

What stories do you remember about earlier ancestors?

Not really a lot. I met my great grandpa a couple of times on the Peyton side. Grandpa Everett. He was missing some fingers, and I got a copy of the newspaper article about it. If I can find it I will add it. Mom said his wife Ruby was gone by the time we met and she never met her, but I could have sworn there was a woman there with grandpa so not sure who that was. I thought my whole life until this year that it was great grandma Ruby. Mom talks about how her mom's family had a fire when grandma Larson was a baby and they lost a set of twins. I do not know much more about that though. I know mom had a brother that was really sick and was not supposed to live long. He graduated chiropractic school and that which amazed everyone, but died early.

How many children were in the family, and where were you in the line-up?

My mom had 3 daughters with her first husband Merritt Will. Angela is 11 years older than I am, Michele is 9 years older than I am, and Candace is 7 years older than I am. I am the only child that my mom and Larry (her second husband) had. So I am the baby.

Describe what your siblings were like. Who were you closest to?

I do not really have a lot of stories about them. I do not remember much. Angie had a boyfriend Daryl that I was in love with. Tall, dark hair, mustache, drove a Cougar, invited me to places with them. He pulled over to a tar truck repaving once and we chewed tar, supposed to make your teeth white??? He could tell me anything and I bought it. But they had me wait in the car while they went in places, I know now they were smoking weed but I did not then. I kept the card from him forever saying he would take me to Disneyland, he never did. Michele moved out to MN with her fraternal grandmother when she was 16, so did not have a lot of time with her but I remember loving her immensely. Stronger connection with her than either of the others although I could not explain it. She said they would take turns walking me to school and the other girls would leave me at the corner and say go on, so she would have to come back and walk me (I do not remember). Candy also moved out at 16, she married Jack Simmons - whom she is still technically married to today. I remember she walked the baby carriage past a friends house on the way to our house and she caught me smoking. I would have been 9 at the time. I ran out to say hello to Tanya and begged her not to tell, but 10 minutes later here comes dad...  I also went over to visit her once and there was a horse next door. The kids were petting it so I did to and it bit me on my boob. Candace whispered for me not to cry and embarrass her...I remember that hurt so bad but I am not sure if I cried or not.

Describe the house you grew up in. Describe your room. - See another blog

What were your family's economic circumstances? Do you remember any times when money was tight? Do you remember having to do without things you wanted or needed? 

I do not think we had money, or an abundance of it. I do not remember going without things I needed but we did not need a lot back then. I had clothes, although mom made a lot of them. She made me a cat costume once, I was mortified. I do not remember if I hurt her feelings about it (I asked her this year and she does not remember) but I know I wanted no part of it. So I imagine she did that due to fabric being cheaper than clothes then. However we did not have cell phones or video games etc. so I did not do without those. I remember my friend Lori having cooler toys that me though.

What were your duties around the house as a child? - see another blog

When did you learn to cook and who taught you? Were there any special family foods or recipes? - see another blog

What activities did the family do together?

Mom and I played Scrabble and did jigsaw puzzles which we enjoyed. Until dad brought us red riding hoods hood...ugh what a nightmare. I do not know if we actually finished that or threw in the towel. We went for rides in the mountains on the weekends, cut wood, learned to drive, and we went camping. I would be covered with bites, held the rod still so nothing would get on it until we took Randy Hayes and his dad and then Randy taught me how to gut a fish and I was all about that. We had homemade chili one time and there were dead mosquitoes swimming in it but dad would not let me throw it out, told me it was extra protein. The only trip we took was driving to and from Oregon the year we moved, and we drove it a zillion times, or so it seemed to me. Dad and I would always go to the fair together and watch any of the car things, and walk around.

What did you do on Christmas? Thanksgiving? Birthdays? Other holidays?

We opened gifts at night, and Santa left gifts for the morning. One time when I was older I stayed up past midnight and said it was morning and opened them. Mom was not happy with me. We always had a cut tree but I think Mike and dad went to get them it was not a family thing. Thanksgiving was a meal at the dining room table, I think we had it at our house and grandma and Cliff would come over. Birthdays were no big deal I do not think. I do not remember. I did not have a party once we moved to Oregon. I always think of my whole childhood as growing up in Oregon but actually we moved up as I was turning 12 and I left when I was 16 so that is a very short time span. I do not think we did anything for other holidays. I remember being upset when mom and dad said they went to the July 4th parade/fireworks in Hood River, because we had never done that.

What is your earliest memory of home/family?

I think the memories I shared about about the bike, getting sick etc.

I do know that dad Dave always held my hair back when I was sick. He would hold my hair with one hand and put his other on my forehead. I panic when I get sick and think I cannot breathe and he was there for me every time, until I was pregnant. I never knew how bad it would hurt when he quit that. I know I disappointed him, hurt him, but I do not think he has any idea how devastating that one act was for me. Not to mention everything else that happened around then.  But I think his not doing that for me while I was sick was more heartbreaking than the phone call, the grocery store or anything else.

OK, on that happy note, yikes! I do remember we had a shoe box full of Disney tickets. Back when they did not charge to get in but you had tickets for the rides. E ticket was the best and for things like Space Mountain type rides. Not sure where the tickets came from, but we went so much that we would actually groan when friends came who had never been and wanted us to go with them!

Brain Scan

(just in, results are at the bottom. Have not heard from the doctor but they seem pretty normal and good to me!)

The brain scan is not the funnest thing I have done, although I imagine it could have been much worse. I have convinced myself that it is all the anxiety/depression medicine, not a tumor, benign or otherwise so I am not really scared. I was so anxious. Eva was out of the hospital but I went alone today. Getting there was not as nerve racking as it would have been had I not been driving myself to the eye doctor lately, because I just turned left and right and left and was there (after I drove to Houston and took the same exit. So basically just a few miles closer and left from the eye doctor. However I do know exactly where to park when I go to the eye doctor and I had no clue here. So I was a little nervous until I drove in and saw a valet...done!! May be too rich for my know where I am going self, but the help me I am lost and afraid I will turn the wrong way on a one way self was HECK YEAH we are doing valet parking!! He was really nice, and there were a lot of elderly etc and I saw him get stiffed so I paid the $9 for parking and gave him a $10 tip, I hope it helped out a bit. Admitting was a bit slow/no one to put me on the waiting list, so I was worried I would miss my 1 pm, but I finally went and found someone and made them help me (who was this??? not me!!) But yes, I did this. They then walk you over as it is in the other tower and you have to go up/over/down and around, or outside in and around, yes I know, everything is bigger in TX. Medical buildings are huge here, but supposedly a leader in medicine here. Anyway, I was in the waiting room trying to do my breathing exercise, sweating, shaking, and wondering if I could run, NO, and the guy came in to give me the questionnaire about piercings/implants anything metal, and paused, hesitated then said how are you doing? Nervous, ummmm yeah, I could tell lol poor guy. He told me it would be ok, then let me be. When he returned he took the clipboard in one hand and literally held my hand and walked me in to the machine and talked to me about it, process etc. I felt bad standing there holding this guys hand like I was 4, but I did not let go either.

The machine appeared big enough that I would not get stuck, so I was positioned and raised, then given a panic button, helmet deal on, and in I went. breathe, breathe, breathe...the helmet has a deal that you can see, but a mirror was positioned to outside, way cool, so I watched the trees/people/cars. He said mine was longer than a normal brain scan that is for a generic reason because they had a specific destination in mind and it is small/middle so they do what he likes to call chapters. so after the 1st chapter he stopped and talked to me, asked if I was ok, and then we went on. I told myself that I could not move or I had to start over, or come back to repeat it, helped keep me real still.

I tried closing my eyes, that was not good for me although the lady before me told me to close my eyes so I suppose it depends on who you are. So I looked out and just pretended I was sitting on the bench. Then I imagined the power going out, could I get out? Yes, I could probably wiggle out but could I get the helmet deal off, probably not. OK, could I squeeze under, no. OK, could I crash thru, No. OK, this is not helping....trees trees, people, trees!!

About 3/4 of the way in they injected dye, I changed positions, then finished and was done!!

Made it. I may have to reconsider the one for the back one of these days. I know they have open ones, but they are not as exact I was told..so we shall see.

Document info

Result type:	MRI Brain w/ + w/o Contrast
Result date:	Sep 14, 2017, 02:18 p.m.
Result status:	authenticated
Performed by:	FELIX SERNA
Verified by:	BYRON BOHNN
Modified by:	BYRON BOHNN
Accession number:	00356MR20170001818

MRI Brain WO/W Contrast

KIMBERLY

Patient:                                                                               DOB:               Jun 04, 1964

HOLLIMAN

REPORT

MRI OF THE BRAIN WITH AND WITHOUT CONTRAST 

 

HISTORY: UNSPECIFIED HYPOTHROIDISM.  

 

COMPARISON: No relevant prior.  

 

TECHNIQUE: Multiplanar multisequence images were obtained. This includes T1 axial and sagittal sequences before injecting contrast material and T1 coronal and axial sequences after injecting 15 mL Gadavist. Axial T2, axial and coronal inversion recovery and axial diffusion-weighted sequences were also performed.  

 

FINDINGS: 

 

There are no cranial demyelinating lesions. 

 

There are no infarcts, hemorrhages, hydrocephalus or other ventricular abnormalities. There are no extra-axial fluid collections or hematomas. No masses are identified.  

 

Skull base structures are normal.  

 

Pituitary gland is normal in caliber and enhances normally. The optic chiasm and pituitary infundibulum are normal. 

 

Cavernous sinus and internal auditory canals with eighth and 7th nerves are normal. 

 

Central skull base is normal. Pineal gland is normal in position.  

 

Visualized portions of the orbits are normal. The corpus callosum is normal. 

 

The craniocervical junction is normal. 

 

The brainstem and cerebellum are normal. No significant white matter abnormalities are noted in the posterior fossa. 

 

Normal flow-voids are seen intracranially and carotid and vertebral basilar systems. The dural venous sinuses are patent.  

 

The calvarium is normal. Extra-axial soft tissues are normal.  

 

The mastoid air cells and paranasal sinuses are normal. 

 

Enhancement pattern is normal. 

 

 

IMPRESSION:  

1.  No mass, hemorrhage or MRI evidence of acute infarction.  

 

2.  Pituitary is normal in size with normal enhancement characteristics. 

 

3.  No distinct intracranial abnormality is observed.  

Early Childhood and Family Background Part I

I guess I was supposed to do this as a section??? Seems too big but I will see how it works. Of course I already started with some singular items so those I will say refer to previous blog on

Parents and Family

What is your full name? Refer to previous blog

Did you have a nickname? how did you get it? My mom used to call me, "beaner" when we lived in CA. I used to get so dark I was black she said. I know they call Mexicans that, so I thought she was calling me Mexican, but she said I looked black like a bean. Although that may have been a coverup lol. She called me Kimmer too. No story behind that one. I do not recall dad calling me anything specific, friends either.

Where and where were you born?  I was born in Long Beach CA at the Long Beach Memorial Hospital on June 4, 1964, I believe it was a Friday. Nope, just looked it up, was a Thursday, so much for that belief!

June 4, 1964 (Thursday)

• The first Soviet communications satellite, Molniya-1 No.2, was launched at 05:00 UTC, on a Molniya8K78 carrier rocket, from Site 1/5 at the Baikonur Cosmodrome.^[14] A motor circuit in the servo controlling the core stage throttle failed 104 seconds into the flight, resulting in the throttle becoming jammed closed and the fuel supply to the engines being stopped.^[15][16] Prior to the release of information about its mission, NASA had incorrectly identified the launch of Molniya-1 No.2 as a failed attempt to launch a Zond spacecraft on a circumlunar technology demonstration mission, and assigned it the placeholder designation Zond 1964A.^[17]
• The crossing of telephone and television lines in the A. T. & T. coaxial cable system caused a disruption for 18 million television viewers across the United States who heard "what may have been the most widely disseminated telephone conversation since Alexander Graham Bell invented the telephone". At 8:13 p.m. Eastern time, people who were watching the NBC television network and a rerun of the series Temple Houston, were surprised by two "unsuspecting callers" who were "as nearly as anyone could tell, two women carrying on a friendly conversation somewhere in New York state". Engineers stopped the interference three minutes later, but at 8:45, more of the discussion was heard nationwide by even more viewers tuned into NBC for Dr. Kildare and to ABC for My Three Sons, along with the sound of both programs.^[18]
• The Beatles began their first, and only, world concert tour starting with a performance at the Tivoli Gardens in Copenhagen, and a second concert two days later at a concert hall in the village of Blokker, Netherlands, followed by visits to Hong Kong, Australia and New Zealand. Because drummer Ringo Starrwas hospitalized for acute tonsillitis, Jimmie Nicol took his place for the first eight shows on the tour.^[19]
• The failing Rolls Razor company's account with Barclays Bank was overdrawn by £485,000. Despite this, John Bloom, managing director persuaded the company's board of directors to pay out dividends of £209,719.^[20]
• Israel and the European Economic Community signed a trade agreement in Brussels. Present at the Ravenstein Hall at the Palais des Congres were Israeli Foreign Minister Golda Meir, foreign trade minister Akiva Govrin, Israel's representative to the EEC Amiel Najar, President of the Commission of the Community Walter Hallstein, and Belgian deputy foreign minister Henri Fayat.^[21]
• Turkey's Prime Minister İnönü outlined his nation's plan for invading Cyprus in a discussion with U.S. Ambassador Raymond A. Hare, explaining that the mission would simply be to occupy part of the island nation, allowing Greece to occupy the other one-half, and having the United Nations peacekeeping force remain between the two zones. Hare asked İnönü to delay the operation by 24 hours so that he could report back to President Johnson.^[6]
• The United Nations Security Council passed Resolution 189, condemning military incursions into Cambodia.

Tell about your parents or your family background.    Well, my parents were Carolyn Dagmar Bertha Petersen and Lawrence Roland Crawford. Dad was in the Navy, his best friend was David Harold Peyton...and the rest is history!!  Mom was married to Merritt Will and had 3 girls, then married Larry and had me, then married Dave and they are still together today. They were married when I was 3, about to be 4.

Where was your family originally from?  Larry was born in South Dakota I believe (& I am not looking that up tonight) and mom was born in Nebraska. They both lived in MN when they met. Dave was from Oregon. He and Larry met in Long Beach, both in the Navy and stationed at the Naval Ship yard there. As far as family history, please see my ancestors here, https://www.familysearch.org/tree/pedigree/KWZJ-TWT/landscape
If you need help I am more than happy to help. I love genealogy and finding stories about ancestors. I was hoping to stay in Houston long enough to pick Michael's brain, but I do not have time with school, and I do not know how long I will stay after I am done, so we will see.

What did your parents do for a living? Did you contribute to the family income or help parents in their work in any way?  Mom work for McDonald Douglas before I understood that. She was also the secretary for my elementary school (and Barrie drove the school bus) When we moved to Oregon, mom did not work per dads request I guess. She tried working once but did not make enough to pay for the extra taxes required in the new bracket. Dad worked at the shipyard in CA, and was the head electrician at the Bonneville Dam in Cascade Locks OR forever. He never missed a day of work that I ever knew about or remembered. He had to cross to the WA  side to get to work at times when the gorge was snowed in, then his guys would call in and say they could not get there. Dad would laugh and say, I did, and I live close to you. Larry worked at the shipyard, did 3 tours in the Vietnam War, Bay of Pigs, etc. then moved to Lucerne Valley and dug wells for a living. I helped around the house, I do not remember specifics, but kitchen, trash etc. nothing big. Had a job at The Ranch drive in as soon as I could work, then went to Ben Franklin Variety Store before I left town.

OK, I will make a part 2 of this one...must get back to home work, 5 more days and 3.5 hours until I am a college graduate!!