The Low Down

What have I been up too?  Here's the skinny:

• I started a part-time job as a "mommy's helper."  I basically go over to a sister's house in our ward and help her with cleaning, cooking, and babysitting.  She's nice and I enjoy working for her.  We have a symbiotic relationship-- I help her so she can spend more time focusing on her two adoptive son's whom have special needs and she helps me have some extra spending money.  I've also found working for her to be a blessing. She is a great organizer and I've gleaned a few ideas off her.  Working this job does have some challenges.  I have less time to spend cleaning my own home, and the kids seem to miss me when I'm gone.  Over all, it's worth it and a certainly a blessing.
• I've found my old self!  I bet you didn't know it, but I lost something very important to me.  The past 7 years or so, I've found myself wanting to be creative, but I didn't have my spark.  My creative self was gone! Everything just seemed too time consuming and I never could narrow down what I wanted to make.  I don't know what changed these past few weeks, but I am thrilled to be creating!  I've made wooden pillars, wooden candy corn, a FHEs  board, spooky blocks, and another board that says, "I do believe in Spooks."  I have so many new ideas running through my mind, I can hardly tackle them fast enough!
• My latest obsession is with my new laminating machine.  It was so cheap...somewhere around $25 and it's been so fun!  I've been spending countless hours printing fun things for my kids and laminating them.  They love it as much as I.  If you're on my Christmas list, watch out!!!  (JK, Dad Barry-- I'll make sure to get you a real present.)  ;)
• The kids are on break!  We went camping which was ok.  Not the best trip, not the worst.  It was just too hot, we were tired, and the kids got plenty dirty.  The 2 highlights of the trip were: no technology and the card game I picked up-- "WAR."  The kids wore those cards out!
• We're cleaning a lot, and organizing.
• And lastly, our washer just died!  I'm currently washing clothes in the tub for now, anyone have a washboard handly? Oh... and can one of you let Aaron know that I really need him to take a break (from work) so he can fix our lame-o washer!

Well, that's about all folks!  Night y'all!

You've met Fuzzy Wuzzy and Noodle, now Introducing... Bella!

We have all been smitten by Bella!  She is so sweet and adorable!  She's 3/4 Llaso Apso and 1/4 Cocker Spaniel. She and Noodle, our Shih Tzu, have really hit it off!  We're thrilled to have found him a playmate just his size.  Both she and Noodle are smaller than our cat! 

She has been held ALL day, and fought over by all of us!  She's only 7 weeks old. 

Ruling Out

Last Thursday I continued to feel palpitations in my chest and dizziness, so I felt impressed to go into the ER yet again.  The thought came to me that I might have a pulmonary embolism. 

The hospital decided to admit me due to my abnormal EKG.  They wanted to perform a stress test on me.  It was pretty scary when they rolled me down to nuclear medicine, and injected me with a radioactive contrast.  The test came back negative, and the cardiologist saw nothing that he thought I should be concerned with.

I then had a  CT scan.  I didn't want to do it, but with my recent surgery and symptoms, I thought it would be best.  That was really scary!  They injected me with another contrast that goes throughout your lungs, and then took pics that are equal to about 100 chest x-rays.  When they injected the medicine in me, I felt a warmth rush through my whole chest and even down to my bladder. Yikes!

That came back negative. 

They performed an ultrasound on my legs, and found a small blood clot in my superficial veins.  The doctor said it was probably a result from my surgery.  I now have to take a baby aspirin every day, but he said I shouldn't worry about it.

They also found out my potassium level was low, which can cause your heart to have an irregular heart beat.   Interesting.  They gave me the biggest potassium horse pills ever, I'm talking big, like an inch and a half long!  I could barely get them down.  I've been feeling much better since I've been eating a banana a day!  I sure hope that's all it is!

Needless to say, during my stay, my feelings of strong *dislike* for hospitals have increased exponentially and my love for my family grew to new heights!  It's great to be home!

A Tender Mercy

After a very busy day, I sat down to check my email and what do you know?  Something beautiful was in there.  Something that brought me to tears, not of sadness, but of joy.  My cousin and his wife just brought home a beautiful little bundle of joy! 

Hailey Nicole

They have waited a long time for this little one.  Six years ago, they lost their dear, sweet baby at the end of her pregnancy.  It broke all of our hearts.  

All these years later, they decided to adopt. They received Hailey 6 years to the day they lost their son. 

They recognize the Lord's hand in this, and have said without a doubt, the Lord has been with them throughout the whole experience.  What a blessing she is, truly a "tender mercy." The Lord is wonderful, and he loves us all so much.  

Thank you Jeremy and Jenny for sharing your special moment with me, my heart is full of happiness for you. 

Morgan's Court of Honor

Last Tuesday was a special night for Morgan.  He earned:

Ranks:

• Scout
• Tenderfoot
• 2nd Class
• 1st Class

Merit Badges:

• Citizenship in the Nation
• Music

We were pretty proud of him.  He's already half-way to earning his Star.  Way 2 go, Morgan!!!

Two Marshmallow Roasting Sticks and a Wooden Spoon

Wow, is it really 11:33 PM???  Why in the world am I still up?  I have seminary in the morning people!  I will be leaving my warm cozy bed at 5 AM, there is NO OTHER OPTION. 

Yet, here I am drooling over my laptop as I write this blog entry.  Today has been a crazy and stressful day, and so now, I'm trying to unload all of that stress.  Breath in...exhale-- NOT WORKING!!!

Well, I guess I'll share with you the beginning moments of my day, it's all a blur, but I'll take it from here.

Kaitlyn has a cold.  Do you know what that means?  Asthma attack!  She and Aaron spent the night @ the ER, yet again.  We're really feeling quite at home there these days.  I of course couldn't sleep.  You know how it is, waiting for the phone to ring.  All that anxiety of not knowing what's going on, it will have you waking up every hour, wondering.  Still I shouldn't complain, Aaron's the one who had to sleep on that hard chair all night.  Poor guy.  It's times like these that make me realize what an awesome hubby he is.  Thank you, honey--  I love you!

So when he came home, it was pretty much time for me to wake up for seminary.  It seriously felt like I had a 5 minute nap!  So painful.

Then I came home, sent the girls off to school, and woke Aaron up.

I had scheduled VT visits-- one for 9AM and one for 10AM.  I realized that after I dropped Aaron off at work, I was going to be late, since he was late.  So I contacted my sister, and she was fine with me arriving a few minutes late.  Then it happened...

Aaron locked the keys inside our running vehicle.  Yes, and our spare keys were also inside said vehicle!  I was ready to call the locksmith, but my husband (being the engineer that he is), opened the rear windows of our van with two marshmallow roasting sticks!  I supplied the wooden spoon, which unlocked the rear door.  We gave each other a high five, and were quite amazed at our new found abilities.  We determined, yet again, that we make a pretty good team-- this new discovery, bringing things to a whole new level!

Needless to say, I had to cancel my VT visit.

I would end there, but I can't resist telling you that our:

• Front door's knob on our house broke.  Now we have to go through the garage until we have it replaced.  If you come for a visit, sorry, I won't be able to open the door.
• There was this amazing storm that hit right at the time Morgan walks home from school.  I'm talking downpour and dangerous lightning.  I decided I'd be a good mom, and pick Morgan up.  I see him walking with a girl, and my first thought was, "Is that Morgan, my son, walking home with a girl (a very pretty girl)?)"  My next thought, "Is that my son, Morgan, putting his arm around a pretty girl?)"  "NOOOOOO!!!!!  I am not ready for this!"  I think I had an anxiety attack at that moment.  When Morgan saw me, let me tell you, he pulled his arm down so fast.  They both looked like they had been caught in the act, which they were.  I tried to be nice and offer the girl a ride home, she declined.  I asked Morgan what was going on.  He said, "she said she was cold mom."  "Right..."  I'm still running this whole situation through my mind, walking home might not be a good option.
• I then went to vote in the pouring rain.  I got all wet, AND the guy I was voting for didn't win!!!

The best thing that happened today was Morgan's Court of Honor, but I'm way to tired to add those details.  I'll save that for tomorrow.  Night y'all.

Lot's of Gifts

Anderson scored today!  When the mail arrived he was one happy boy, presents from the Grandparents are always a special treat!  I had fun making collages out of the pics we took...

From Grandparents Barry

From Grandma Garrison

Fun times, thanks Grandma/Grandpa Barry and Grandma Garrison--  he felt so loved!